BANGLURU: (AMN) B S Yeddyurappa led Bharatiya Janata Party government on Monday won the confidence vote in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly by voice vote amid chaos. Soon after meeting the house the speaker K G Bopaiah put the one line motion moved by Chief Minister for vote.
After the voice vote, the Speaker declared confidence motion as passed. There were severe protests by the opposition Congress and Janata Dal(S) legislators when the proceedings were on. As soon as the speaker announced that the trust has been won, the House plunged into turmoil. Speaker promptly adjourned the House sine die.
The opposition Congress and the JD(S) convened their respective legislature party meetings in the Vidhana Soudha and submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking head count of all Legislatures and the dismissal of the BJP government.
Ealier Speaker K G Bopaiah disqualified 16 rebel MLAs, including 11 from BJP under the provision of the anti defection law. With this the strength in the 224-member Assembly was brought down to 208. Accordingly, the number of votes needed to prove majority also came down to 105.
The rebel MLAs were also barred by the speaker from entering the House to prevent them from participating in the trial of strength. However, the rebels forcibly entered the lounges of the state Assembly, foiling police attempts to block them.
Meanwhile, the sixteen MLAs, who were disqualified from their Assembly membership, moved the Karnataka High Court challenging their disqualification. They have also sought stay of the Speaker’s order.