CM HD Kumaraswamy takes opposition by surprise, will seek vote of confidence

BENGALURU: Heading a troubled coalition government seemingly counting its days, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy pulled off a surprise on Friday by declaring that he would seek a trust vote on the floor of the House. The CM's announcement on the first day of the monsoon session came soon after Supreme Court handed him a breather, by asking the speaker to maintain status quo till Tuesday (July 16) on the resignations of the 10 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs, and, the plea to disqualify them for defying party directions.

As soon as the assembly met at noon, Kumaraswamy rose to announce that he would take a floor test in the backdrop of the political developments in the state. Before speaking on the obituary reference moved by the speaker, Kumaraswamy said given the ongoing confusion, it would be appropriate for him to continue in office only after proving his majority. "So, I have decided to seek a trust vote. You fix the date and time," Kumaraswamy said, addressing speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.
The announcement took BJP by surprise as it not only pre-empted their plan to move a no-confidence motion but also blunted the accusation that the CM was clinging to power despite losing majority.
Sources close to the chief minister said that he was taking a "calculated risk" and this final throw of the dice could be make or break. "The CM has his own calculations and is very aware of the position within BJP," said a legislator close to Kumaraswamy.
"Opposition MLAs are not united in favour of forming a government. Had they been confident of defeating the coalition in a trust vote, BJP would have quickly moved a no-trust motion. By sitting back, BJP appears to be on shaky ground."
Sources said that AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, CLP leader Siddaramaiah and water resources minister DK Shivakumar spoke with the CM on Friday morning to chalk out the strategy for the trust vote.
"Congress has given the CM complete authority to approach its rebels and even negotiate on the coalition's behalf," a legislator said. "Kumaraswamy has personally tried to convince each of the rebels to return to the fold."
Senior Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy, one of the 16 who resigned, is learned to have been mollified. There is speculation that he will be given the Bengaluru development portfolio which deputy CM G Parameshwara currently holds.
R Roshan Baig, another Congress rebel, attended the assembly session on Friday and although he has been suspended by the party, his presence is being seen as a sign of his coming around.
The rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs, who are camping in Mumbai and skipping the assembly session, will have return to Bengaluru once the whip is issued for the trust vote motion to be debated.
If dissidents defy party whip, they could well be disqualified
Though the MLAs have taken the stand that they need not attend the legislature as they have resigned from their assembly seats, the speaker has not accepted their resignations yet. If the MLAs do violate the whip, it will be a strong ground to seek their disqualification under the anti-defection law. “Since their resignations are not accepted yet, the rebel MLAs continue to be members of the assembly and they are bound by the whip to toe the party line,” a senior Congress MLA said.
Having set the ball rolling, Kumaraswamy appeared calm in his chamber during the session, casually chatting with brother and PWD minister HD Revanna and his confidantes, including minister Bandeppa Kashempur and Shravanabelagola MLA CN Balakrishna. “He is not overtly worried about his survival,” said a legislator. “Having been an accidental CM twice, Kumaraswamy is least bothered whether he continues as CM.”
BJP seemed to have gone on the backfoot, at least temporarily, with state unit chief BS Yeddyurappa saying his party would plot its strategy on the trust vote. “As a chief minister, he has made a statement. How can I say no to it? It’s up to him,” he said.
A meeting between BJP Karnataka in-charge P Muralidhar Rao and JD(S) minister SR Mahesh had triggered speculation of a potential BJP-JD(S) tie-up but sources said Kumaraswamy had closed all doors to aligning with BJP. “The JD(S)- Congress concern is how to stall BJP’s efforts to capture power,” a sources said.