MillenniumPost
Big Story

Kumaraswamy wins trust vote in Karnataka amid BJP walkout

Bengaluru: The three-day-old Kumaraswamy government in Karnataka on Friday won a vote of confidence without a contest, with the BJP MLAs walking out of the Assembly before the floor test, in a tame end to the 10-day high-voltage political drama after the polls yielded a hung House.
It turned out to be smooth sailing for the 58-year- old H D Kumaraswamy, as BJP members trooped out of the House after Leader of the Opposition B S Yeddyurappa's blistering attack on the "unholy" JD(S)-Congress coalition.
Kumaraswamy's motion seeking the confidence vote was declared passed by voice vote by Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar in the absence of the BJP MLAs. Kumaraswamy described the BJP walkout as "escapism".
The first signs of the BJP conceding defeat in the numbers game were visible when it pulled out its candidate Suresh Kumar from the race for the Speaker's post, saying it had decided to honour the parliamentary tradition that the presiding officer should be chosen unanimously.
Congress' Ramesh Kumar was elected the Speaker unopposed.
The JD(S)-Congress coalition had claimed the support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221.
While the Congress has 78 MLAs, Kumaraswamy's JD(S) has 36, and BSP 1. The alliance also claimed support of the lone KPJP MLA and an Independent.
But like on May 19, when Yeddyurappa failed to muster the support of as many lawmakers required to anchor his government's ship safely and stepped down, the BJP did not go for a showdown.
Seeking the trust vote, Kumaraswamy asserted the Congress-JD(S) coalition government would complete its five- year term while maintaining he was conscious that his party JD(S) does not have a majority on its own.
He, however, said the coalition government would be "stable for five years".
The chief minister said there was a "blot" on JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda after he (Kumaraswamy) joined hands with the BJP to form a coalition government in 2006.
Kumaraswamy said he was now relieved as that "blot" on his father's reputation caused by his act of aligning with the BJP has been removed (with the formation of a secular government). Deve Gowda had strongly opposed Kumaraswamy's decision to form a coalition government with the BJP. He also said the government was committed to waiving farm loans, as promised during the elections.
Kumaraswamy accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of using its agencies like the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate against its political rivals.
Before staging a walkout, Yeddyurappa launched a stinging attack on Kumaraswamy, saying the chief minister was known for his acts of "betrayal".
The BJP under Yeddyurappa had propped up the JD(S)-led government in 2006 as part of a power-sharing arrangement of rotational chief ministership. After Kumaraswamy had completed his 20-month term and Yeddyurappa's turn came to become the chief minister, the JD(S) withdrew support in seven days.
Yeddyurappa told the Congress members that Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda would "finish" their party.
The former CM also amused the house as he confessed that his attempt to get the support of Congress and JDS lawmakers had failed as the Congress's DK Shivkumar had played "khalnayak (villain)".
Before his walkout, the Lingayat strongman warned the new government of "unrest" if farmer loans were not waived off by Monday. See P5
Next Story
Share it