BJP insists on completing the trust vote process

Bengaluru: The state BJP on Monday requested that he trust vote process should begin on Monday Monday itself.

The fate of the fragile Congress-JDS government in Karnataka is likely to be decided on the floor of the assembly on Monday even as the rebel MLAs on Sunday bluntly refused to compromise on their stand and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy made an appeal to them to attend the House in an effort to save his 14-month old ministry.

Two days of efforts to woo back the rebel MLAs after the government defied on July 19 two deadlines set by Governor Vajubhai Vala to prove majority appeared to have fallen flat as the lawmakers hunkered down in a Mumbai hotel asserted they would not return and rejected allegations they were held captive.

As many as 16 MLAs — 13 from the Congress and three from JDS– had resigned, while independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh have withdrawn their support to the coalition government, pushing the government to the precipice.

One Congress member Ramalinga Reddy retracted, saying he would support the government. The ruling combine’s strength is 117– Congress 78, JD(S) 37, BSP 1, and nominated 1, besides the Speaker.

With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 MLAs in the 225-member House, including the nominated MLA and Speaker.

If the resignations of 15 MLAs (12 from Congress and three from JDS) are accepted or if they stay away, the ruling coalition’s tally will plummet to 101, (excluding the Speaker) reducing the government to a minority.

The coalition strength would fall further to 98 as claimed by Yeddyurappa, as two Congress MLAs are unlikely to attend due to health reasons.

BJPs strength is also likely to come down to 106, as Shankar who has extended support to the saffron party will not attend the session, according to sources, fearing poaching by Congress as Speaker has not accepted his request for his seating arrangement along with opposition.