Live : Karnataka Floor Test : Tussel over ‘Kursi’

The trust vote has been passed, HDK gets 117 MLA’s votes and the Congress-JD(S) coalition is here to stay.

BJP stages a walkout even as the floor test was still in progress.

BSP Chief Yeddyurappa warned of a statewide protest if the government if Kumaraswamy doesn’t waive farm loans in 24 hours. According to PTI Yeddyurappa said Kumaraswamy had promised to waive farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore, including the ones borrowed from nationalised banks. “It was you who had promised to waive farm loans within 24 hours (after assuming office). The farmers will not be ready to buy your stories that you head a coalition government and it has its own compulsions. You have to announce it in this special session itself. Else, we will prepare an action plan to launch our agitation across the state”.

Kumaraswamy also said that he is hurt because people of Karnataka didn’t choose him; he became CM because of the coalition.

Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy moved the vote of confidence on the floor of the house. BJP legislature leader has been recognized as the leader of the opposition in the assembly. Govind Karjol to be the deputy opposition leader, Speaker Kumar said.

Opposition Leader and Deputy CM Siddaramaiah was all praises for the newly elected Speaker and acknowledged his experience in the house. He also assured Ramesh Kumar that the members will abide by the rules of the house.

Pro term Speaker KG Bopaiah announced that Congress MLA KR Ramesh Kumar has been selected as the speaker of the assembly. The speaker was unanimously elected through a voice vote. This comes as a huge win for the JD(S)-Congress before the trust vote.

Kumaraswamy said, “You were the Speaker when my father (H.D Deve Gowda) served as Chief Minister. I deem it a privilege that you are Speaker now when I serve as the Chief Minister”.

BJP Candidate Suresh Kumar withdrew his nomination from the post of the speaker in keeping with the legislature tradition of the unanimous election.

DK Shivakumara arrived at the meeting ending the speculation that he was upset over not being given importance in the collation government saying, “I am doing my job for the party, let us not speculate on other things. Congress party will take the right decision”.

JD(S) legislators left from the home-office of the Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy’s house after a meeting.

Image Source – Rediff.com, NDTV,