Patel Emerges Unscathed In Vote Of Confidence

The 19-month-old J H Patel ministry in Karnataka won a vote of confidence in the assembly, a week after it plunged into turmoil when three ministers resigned to join former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegdes camp. Amid a walkout by Congress and BJP, the motion of confidence was carried by 135-nil at the special one-day session. A smooth sailing for Patel was expected as his ministrys majority was not called into question as Hegdes political outfit Lok Shakti had declared it would not topple the government. All the three ministers who had quit and an equal number of Janata Dal MLAs who joined Hegdes non-political outfit, Rashtreeya Navanirmana Vedike on January 20, supported the motion when it was put to vote.