Live : Karnataka Assembly floor test | K.R. Ramesh Kumar elected Speaker of the Assembly

The election to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker's post is under way on Friday at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, following which the State's newly elected Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will face a floor test.

Mr. Kumaraswamy was sworn in as Karnataka's 30th Chief Minister on Wednesday, as the head of coalition government between the Congress and JD (S). The coalition came about following a hung verdict in the polls, when the BJP, despite being the single largest party, failed to reach the majority mark.

Here are the udates:

K.R. Ramesh Kumar elected Speaker

Pro tem speaker K G. Bopaiah has announced in the Karnataka legislative assembly that K.R. Ramesh Kumar has been unanimously elected as Speaker of the Assembly. Members across party lines congratulate Mr. Kumar. This is minutes after Suresh Kumar withdrew his nomination.

Mr. Kumaraswamy, speaking after election, says Ramesh Kumar is an experienced man who has served as Speaker earlier. The CM thanks BJP for the gesture of withdrawing the nomination.  Mr. Kumaraswamy recalls the history of the State's illustrious speakers.

"You were the Speaker when my father (H.D Deve Gowda) served as Chief Minister. I deem it a privilege that you are Speaker now when I serve as the Chief Minister," says Mr. Kumaraswamy.

Ramesh Kumar served as the Speaker of Assembly during 1994-99. He served as a Health Minister in the Congress govt headed by Mr. Siddaramaiah. He is a Congress MLA representing Srinivaspura from Kolar district.

BJP's Suresh Kumar withdraws nomination

BJP candidate Suresh Kumar has tweeted saying he has withdrawn his nomination paper for the unanimous election of the Speaker, in keeping with the "legislature tradition".

Legislators trickling into Assembly. First on the agenda is the Speaker's election.

Doing my job for Congress, says D.K Shivakumar

D.K. Shivakumar arrives at the CLP meeting, ending speculation about his initial absence.

"I am doing my job for the party, let us not speculate on other things. Congress party will take the right decision," he said.

D.K Shivakumar with other party leaders at the CLP meeting at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, May 25, 2018   | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Mr. Shivakumar, the former energy minister,  was reportedly rattled that he was denied a key post in the coalition government. He is said to have expressed his discontent to Congress party leaders, especially after his service to the party, and the risk he took in keeping the flock together after the fractured mandate in the Assembly elections. However, he is expected to get a Cabinet berth.

All three parties are holding legislature party meetings. B.S. Yeddyurappa, speaking before the legislature party meeting, says that 104 BJP legislators in the Opposition unanimously demand waiver of farm loans. If not the party will launch an agitation. "CM has to announce it in the Assembly today," he said.

Speaking near Vidhana Soudha, former minister Ramalinga Reddy says the BJP speaks out of spite, unable to digest the fact that they have lost power. He dismisses speculation serious differences in the Congress party, adding "small differences" will be sorted out.

Congress Legislatures Party meeting underway at Vidhana Soudha

Congress MLAs have arrived at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru from the Hilton, where they were staying. (CLP) meeting is underway at the Vidhana Soudha. It is being chaired by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Congress leader Zameer Ahmed Khan told the media  that all legislators are united. He refuted reports of discontentment among Congress legislators.

Expressing regret over holding JD(S) legislators in a resort, JD (S) leader Basavaraj Horatti said it was inevitable because of the grand plans of the BJP to launch Operation Kamala. He was speaking to the media in front of Krishna Home Office of the CM.

JD (S) Legislators reached Krishna home-office of CM Kumaraswamy for a meeting. After the meeting, they will leave for Vidhana Soudha.

Election to Karnataka Speaker’s post will see a contest

With the election for the Speaker’s post scheduled for Friday afternoon, the Congress–Janata Dal (Secular) nominee K.R. Ramesh Kumar and BJP nominee S. Suresh Kumar filed their nomination papers with the Legislative Assembly Secretariat here on Thursday.

While MLA for Malleswaram C.N. Ashwathnarayan and MLA for Karkala V. Sunil Kumar accompanied Mr. Suresh Kumar for filing of nomination papers, Mr. Ramesh Kumar was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other senior Congress leaders. Mr. Suresh Kumar has served as Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the BJP government, and Mr. Ramesh Kumar was the Speaker between 1994 and 1999.

JD(S)-Congress understanding for 2019 Lok Sabha polls depends on fair dialogue: Kumaraswamy

In an interview to The Hindu on the eve of the floor test, Mr. Kumaraswamy says the JD(S)-Congress alliance will survive as long as there is a fair and transparent dialogue between the partners.

(Inputs from Chitra Ramani, Muralidara Khajane, Nagesh Prabhu, Bageshree Subbanna)