Karnataka floor test: This is a big circus company, please cooperate, Speaker tells MLAs

New Delhi: Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh Monday appealed the Kumaraswamy-led JDS-Congress government to honour its commitment and complete the floor test today. Addressing the House, the Speaker added that the whips issues will apply to the rebel MLAs as well.

"People are watching. In the name of discussion, if an opinion is created that we are wasting time, it won't be right on my part or anybody else's," he added. The Speaker also called for a meeting tomorrow with the 15 rebel MLAs following the ruling coalition's request that they be disqualified.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, refused to give an early hearing to the plea of two Independent Karnataka MLAs seeking directions to the Speaker to conclude the floor test before 5 pm today. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "Impossible. We have never done this before. Tomorrow we may see to it."

Ahead of the vote, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has appealed the rebel MLAs to "return" and to explain the Assembly how the BJP "sabotaged democratic edifice and destroyed its sanctity." In an open letter, the CM invited the lawmakers to discuss their issues, adding that he was not trying to "cling onto power."

(With inputs from Indian Express)