BJP Ministry wins confidence vote in Karnataka

Six days of high voltage political drama in Karnataka ended on Monday as the Bharatiya Janata Party Ministry won the cofidence in the Assembly by a voice vote after the Speaker bailed out the beleagured Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa by disqualifying 16 rebel MLAs under anti-defection laws.

Speaker K G Bopaiah, who disqualified 16 MLAs– 11 of BJP and five independent– late Sunday night, announced the victory of Yeddyurappa, who moved the confidence motion, by voice votes.

Three party MLAs had returned earlier after a total of 19 legislators wtihdrew support to the government on October six.

The Speaker, defying Governor H R Bhardwaj’s advise to maintain the status-quo before the vote of confidence, ordered a list of disqualified legislators to be put up in front of the Asembly gate asking the marshals not to allow any of them to enter the House.

The Head of the state had asked Bopaiah on Sunday to desist from disqualifying any legislator and maintain the full strength of the House during the vote of confidence.

While accusing the Governor of interfering in legislative matters, the Speaker said the action against the disqualified MLAs had been taken under the provision of the anti-defection law as envisaged in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

The disqualified MLAs are Balachandra Jarkiholi, Belur Gopala Krishna, Anand Asnotikar, Dr. Sarvabowma Bagali, V Nagaraju, Raje Kage, Y Sampangi, Nanjundaswamy, S K Bellubbi, H S Shankara Lingegowda and Shivanagouda Naik.

As the vote of confidence started, reports came in that the barred MLAs made an abortive attempt to storm the Assembly.

A Marshal was also reportedly assaulted by the opposition MLAs.

The Opposition said they would challenge the Speaker’s ruling disqualifying 16 MLAs.

The Chief Minister, who had been visiting temples since the rebels withdrew support to him, said he was confident about winning the support of majority of law makers.

Yeddyurappa said he had “the blessings of God.”

But, Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Revanna accused Bopaiah and Yeddyurappa of conspiring and violating democratic tenets.