Bengaluru: Exactly 14 months since coming to power, the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) government Tuesday fell in Karnataka.
The coalition government lost the trust vote 99 to 105 after four days of debate in the assembly and weeks of drama following 16 MLAs resigning.
The BJP is now likely to stake claim to form the government.
The vote, held by Speaker Ramesh Kumar, took place after several twists and turns, including the Supreme Court being petitioned to intervene in the matter.
“I had no intention of dragging the trust vote. I apologise to the Speaker and the state,” Kumarswamy said during the proceedings, PTI reported.
Karnataka’s future now lies with Governor Vajubhai Vala, on whether he decides to invite the BJP to form the government or if he invokes President’s rule on the grounds of horse-trading. If President’s rule is imposed, Karnataka will go to polls in the next six months.
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How the drama unfolded
Sixteen MLAs — 13 from Congress and three from the Janata Dal (Secular) — had resigned from the assembly while two Independent MLAs, R. Shankar and H. Nagesh, had withdrawn support from the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government.
Speaker Kumar refused to accept the resignations citing technicalities, which led to the MLAs moving the Supreme Court. The apex court, meanwhile, directed that the rebel MLAs shouldn’t be forced to participate in the proceedings of the House, and said the Speaker was free to decide on the resignations.
Kumaraswamy eventually moved for a trust vote, which was taken up by the House on 18 July.
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