Cong moves no-confidence motion against Speaker

Opposition Congress in the Karnataka assembly has moved a no-confidence motion against Speaker K G Bopaiah. Congress has cited delay by the Speaker in accepting resignation tendered by B Sreeramulu to his assembly membership and his “pro-government stance” in its motion of no-confidence.

“Congress has moved a motion against me. They have done it under the rules of the House. That’s all I can say now.” Bopaiah told reporters while briefing on the upcoming assembly session beginning from December 5.

According to Assembly legislature secretariat sources, the Congress submitted the motion against the speaker yesterday. As per the tentative programme schedule released by the assembly secretariat, the legislature will meet till December 16, indicating that the motion could be taken up either on December 14 or on December 15.

This is the second motion being moved by Congress as the earlier one lapsed following abrupt adjournment of the session in July. Meanwhile opposition Congress leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah told reporters that his party has given a motion of no-confidence against the Speaker.

Meanwhile, Special Lokayukta Court will pronounce order tomorrow on the admissibility of a private complaint filed against three former Karnataka Chief Ministers, including S M Krishna, now External Affairs Minister, accusing them of permitting illegal mining.

The Judge N K Sudhindra Rao posted the complaint for orders to tomorrow after eliciting certain clarifications from the complainant T J Abraham.

The complainant has accused Krishna, N Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy of indulging in various acts of omission and commission of illegalities in relation to grant of leases for mining in the state during their tenure as Chief Ministers. The complainant,who has also named 11 officials as accused, prayed for referring the complaint for investigations under section 156 (3) Cr PC (power to investiate cognizable case).