BJP doesn’t let up, fields candidate for speaker post in a bid to force test of strength ahead of trust vote.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka assembly is set for its second scheduled vote of confidence within a week but this time, the incumbent, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, is confident of victory. Kumaraswamy, who faces a trust vote Friday, will be heading a JD(S)-Congress coalition government, which claims to enjoy the support of 117 MLAs.
Last week, BJP chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa resigned before he could move the trust vote once he realised that his party would not make up the numbers to ensure a simple majority.
Kumaraswamy has announced that not only will he prove his majority in the assembly, he will also ensure that the coalition completes its term and provides a model and stable government.
The assembly, however, is likely to witness harried scenes as the BJP is not letting go without a fight. The party is set to field former law minister Suresh Kumar as its candidate for the speaker’s post, in a bid to force a test of strength ahead of the trust vote.
Suresh Kumar will be up against Ramesh Kumar, the Congress-JD(S) speaker nominee who was the health minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet. Ramesh is also a six-time MLA.
Sources in the BJP have confirmed that they have fielded Suresh Kumar to ensure that the pressure on Kumaraswamy government continues.
Speaker polls before trust vote
The BJP’s decision to field a candidate for the speaker post has ensured that the election for the post will be held before the trust vote. Pro-tem Speaker K.G. Bopaiah will be entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the elections.
As per procedure, all the recently elected MLAs, who have been sworn in, will have to be inside the assembly as the bell rings; the entire proceedings will be conducted under closed doors. The speaker’s election will be conducted either by a voice vote or a show of hands — the decision will be taken by the legislators in the house on that day.
If any member seeks a division of votes, then the pro-team speaker will ask the hands/ persons to be counted. Once the speaker is sworn in, the chief minister will move the motion for the trust vote. Similar to the proceedings of the speaker election, it will be decided whether the trust vote will be a voice vote or a show of hands. If a division is sought, the members for and against the motion will be counted.
“I will come out victorious in the floor test. All our MLAs are with us and we will continue to serve the 6 crore people of Karnataka,” Kumaraswamy said during a media interaction Thursday. He expressed confidence that there would be no cross voting.