Nobody demanded division of votes, says speaker

Speaker of Karnataka Assembly K G Bopaiah, who was at the centre of the storm in the Karnataka Assembly here on Monday, said that nobody had demanded a division of votes in the assembly before the B S Yeddyurappa government won the confidence motion by a voice vote.

“When the motion was put up for voice vote, no member sought a division of votes. Nobody demanded it, so where is the question of division of votes,” Bopaiah told reporters. “The motion was passed by voice-vote as per rules”, he said.

He said there was “time limitation” as this motion was the only subject, which had to be completed today itself. Bopaiah also justified the entry of police personnel into the Assembly. “When the situation is out of control, in order to bring order, that (bringing police into the House) can be done”.

Asked how he could disqualify five independents, who have joined the opposition, Bopaiah said independents joining any other political party were liable to be disqualified. “An Independent should remain as independent till his term is over”, he said, adding, according to the documents provided by the independents, they have joined a particular political party.

Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state today demanded immediate recall of Governor H R Bhardwaj and warned of agitation if it was not done.

The governor is “acting like leader of opposition”, president of BJP state unit K S Eshwarappa said in the presence of chief minister B S Yeddyurappa after the government won the vote of confidence by a voice vote. “He has in a way behaved like instigating the JD-S and the Congress,” Eshwarappa alleged.

He charged that Bhardwaj was conspiring against the BJP government ever since he assumed charge. Demanding his recall by the Centre, he said, “Otherwise, we will agitate.”

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said the people had not expected such a behaviour from the governor, who he said, tried to exercise the power of the Speaker. “It’s very unfortunate,” he added.