State assembly adjourns sine die

The week-long winter session of both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature was adjourned sine die today, with the political developments triggered by former BJP strongman B S Yeddyurappa forming his new party casting a shadow on proceedings.

Yeddyurappa, who formed his Karnataka Janata Party, openly held out a threat to bring down the government if the BJP initiated action against his loyalist legislators so much so that the party leadership back-pedalled on initiating action against 13 MLAs who attended the Haveri-launch rally on December 9 with the numbers game weighing on its minds.

On the final day, the Government debated problems of Noth Karnataka region, which is reeling under severe drought. Congress leader in the Assembly launched a tirade against the government went back on its word of not releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and protecting the interests of farmers in the Cauvery basin. On the penultimate day of the session,the Shettar government faced an acid test to show their strength when Siddaramaiah said the ruling party did not have enough numbers to pass the Cooperatives Bill. But, the government succeeded in passing the bill through division vote. During the session, Cooperation minister B J Puttaswamy was sacked by Shettar for openly aligning with Yeddyurappa, while Infrastructure Minister Sunil Valyapure, another Yeddyurappa loyalist, quit the cabinet for the same reason. Vijay Sankeshwar also quit his Council seat over the political developments in the ruling BJP.