Yediyurappa may pass floor test if rebels pose no hiccups

BENGALURU: Will B S

Yediyurappa

pass the crucial floor test on Monday?


Party leaders and legal experts say he will provided he can manage to ensure a repeat of what transpired during the trust vote on July 23 that went against chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and led to the fall of the JD(S)-Congress government.

Kumaraswamy lost the trust vote by six votes after 20 rebel MLAs abstained. The Congress-JD(S) combine's tally - those voting in favour - plummeted to 99 in the 225-member assembly, reducing the government to a minority.

With the house strength now reduced to 222 from 225 following the disqualification of three rebel Congress MLAs, Yediyurappa with 105 MLAs will smoothly pass the floor test without any hiccups if 17 rebel MLAs abstain from voting as it will reduce the magic number to 103 from 112.

While 15 rebel legislators, staying at a hotel in Maharashtra, have reportedly assured the BJP they won't attend the trust vote, there is some worry for the saffron party over two MLAs B Nagendra and Srimath Patil - who abstained from the trust vote on health grounds.

Congress leaders say the party has submitted proof to the Speaker that Patil was allegedly faking a heart ailment and he was admitted to a Mumbai hospital which did not have a cardiology unit. They also expect the Speaker to consider their plea for disqualification of some rebels under the anti-defection law.

Speaker Ramesh Kumar is likely to take a call on the resignations of 14 rebel MLAs before Yediyurappa faces the trust vote. There would be some anxiety for the BJP if the Speaker rejects a dozen resignations.

No-confidence motion against Speaker

BJP plans to move a no-confidence motion against the Speaker on Monday in the extended monsoon session of the legislature. However, the election for the new Speaker can be held on the 15th day from the date of moving the no-confidence motion.

Sources said this move may disempower the Speaker from taking any action against rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs.