Karnataka   

Kumaraswamy may sail through today's vote of confidence

Staff Reporter

BJP- JD(S) combine expected to have 140 supporters in the House of 224

Bangalore: The Karnataka State Assembly will meet on Wednesday at 10.30 a.m. to test the majority enjoyed by the new coalition headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy, as directed by Governor T.N. Chaturvedi.

The vote of confidence is the only subject on the agenda of the House. On January 27, when the previous coalition Government was required to take the vote of confidence as directed by the Governor, the subject had not been included in the agenda. According to Legislative Assembly secretariat sources, the Government has forwarded the subject of vote of confidence for inclusion in the agenda unlike on January 27.

The Government is expected to sail through with ease, with the combined strength of the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) members being more than the required 113 in the House of 224. The five-member JD (United) group and some of the independents are expected to support the motion.

Speaking to presspersons after a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party Legislature Party, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa exuded confidence that Mr. Kumaraswamy will get more than the required support from the BJP and the JD (S) members as also some others.

Mr. Yediyurappa hoped that there will be no debate by those in the Government on motion, but did not rule out speeches by members of the Opposition. Members in the ruling combine have been advised to be calm and behave in dignified manner during the debate and passage of the motion. They have been advised against giving room for disturbances in the House, which might give a handle to the Opposition to walk out in protest.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the MLAs of both the parties will gather at Vidhana Soudha at 8.30 a.m as per the direction of the Chief Minister for breakfast and they will proceed to the Assembly hall.

He also said that the meeting attended by senior party leaders such as K.S. Eshwarappa, the State unit president Jagadish Shettar and the floor leader in the Legislative Council D.H. Shankara Murthy, discussed the strategy to be adopted during the discussion. Already, the party MLAs have been issued a whip to support the vote of confidence. He expected around 140 members to support the motion.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (S) has decided to allow its members, numbering 46, and some independents to cast their conscience vote. According to sources, this course has been taken by the party, in view of the dilemma among some members on the developments in the party in the last few weeks.

Sources, however, expressed their hope that the Janata Dal (S) members and independents supporting it will vote in favour of Mr. Kumaraswamy-headed Government.

Including three of its rebels, H. Halappa and B. Gopalakrishna, who are supporting S. Bangarappa's Samajwadi Party and, Suneetha Veerappa Gowda, who has identified herself with the Janata Dal (Secular), the BJP has 79 members. An independent member Rajasekhara Sindhoor has joined the party as an associate member and will also vote for the motion.

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