Congress-JD(S) tries to keep MLAs united

Bengaluru: Leaders of the Congress and JD(S) camp are confident of defeating the trust vote motion to be moved by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Saturday. After their refuge in Hyderabad, the 113 elected members of the two parties will return to Bengaluru on Saturday to attend the session that is to be convened at 11 am. Though MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gouda Patil were not with the Congress camp in Hyderabad and are rumoured to have jumped ship, it has not caused much hue and cry within the party. The primary concern of the coalition is to hold the members together until the floor test.

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was unanimously elected as the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader, as directed by AICC President Rahul Gandhi. Siddaramaiah and JD(S) Legislature Party Leader H.D. Kumaraswamy conducted a meeting with the newly elected members and urged them to stay united to form the government in the State. They also discussed the ruling of the Supreme Court and the appointment of BJP members K.G. Bopaiah as pro-term Speaker.

According to inside sources, the alliance is opposed to the idea of having Bopaiah as the Speaker. Kumaraswamy delivered an emotional speech at the CLP meeting and requested the members not to cross-vote and betray the party. He promised that he would not let the party down. The Supreme Court direction to conduct the floor test and decide the majority in the Legislative Assembly on Saturday came as a relief to the alliance. The leaders are hopeful of proving their majority and forming the government in the State.