Kumaraswamy moves confidence motion, high drama marks debate

Marked by a high drama, the Karnataka assembly Thursday took up the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to decide the fate of the Congress-JDS government wracked by depleted numbers after rebellion by a section of ruling coalition MLAs.

The drama unfolded right from the word go as, facing a truncated strength caused by the en masse resignation of 16 ruling coalition MLAs, Kumaraswamy moved a one-line motion, saying the House expressed confidence in the 14-month old ministry headed by him.

A total of 20 lawmakers did not turn up Thursday, including 17 from the ruling coalition, 12 of whom are corralled in a hotel in Mumbai, as the House debated in a surcharged atmosphere with two adjournments amid pandemonium.

Adding to the worries of the ruling coalition, another Congress MLA Shreemant Patil was not seen in the House, amid reports he has been admitted in a Mumbai hospital.

At one point, Congress members carrying pictures of Patil trooped into the well of the House shouting slogans "Down Down BJP" and "down down operation Kamala (lotus)" to bring down the government.

BSP MLA Mahesh, on whose support the coalition was counting, also did not show up, amid reports he was keeping away as he has not received any directions from the party leader Mayawati on the stand to be taken on the trust vote.

Seeking the trust vote, Kumaraswamy said the rebel MLAs had cast doubts about the coalition government across the country and "we have to tell the truth."
I, therefore, send this message to the House to consider completing the proceedings of the House by the end of the day."
The speaker read out the message and said "I have brought it to the notice of the House."