Karnataka floor test LIVE: Proceedings to resume at 3 pm

Congress’s greed for power out in open, tweets BJP

Watch: Karnataka Minister & son of H D Deve Gowda, H D Revanna arrived barefoot at the state Assembly, for trust vote debate, today.

Congress leader DK Shivakumar was seen interacting with BJP MLA B Sriramulu in Karnataka Assembly after the session was adjourned for lunch.

Yeddyurappa says, "Let Congress issue whip to all its MLAs. We have no problem."

Yeddyurappa says, "Let Congress issue whip to all its MLAs. We have no problem."

SC order encroached on my right, tweets Siddaramaiah

Assembly session adjourned until 3 pm. Earlier Siddaramaiah said that until there is clarity on Supreme Court order it would not be advisable to take the floor test.

Assembly session adjourned until 3 pm. Earlier Siddaramaiah said that until there is clarity on Supreme Court order it would not be advisable to take the floor test.

Congress' chief troubleshooter in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar says State BJP chief BSY is misguiding the situation

Meanwhile, BSP MLA Mahesh not attending Assembly proceedings. He said that the ruling coalition has not approached Mayawati. Congress MLAs Nagendra and Srimanth B Patil also missing.

Speaker tells BJP members to leave the discretion to him of whether to allow members to raise point of orders or not.

BJP leader Jagadish objected to Siddaramaiah making a lengthy speech while raising a point of order and asked the speaker to make CLP be specific. He said that Siddaramaiah is misusing the platform to say things that are more suitably discussed in a public meeting or an election rally just to delay the vote.

It should be noted that Speaker has, however, not given any indications about the time frame within which he would decide on the resignations.

Speaker can hear members before announcing decision, says Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda

Congress and JDS had submitted a list of 26 speakers for the trust motion.

BS Yeddyurappa has said that the trust vote should be taken up without delay as there is no need for prolonged discussion on the issue, when the chief minister himself has admitted he does not have the desired support to remain in power,.

We agreed to let Kumaraswamy speak on Trust Vote, says Madhuswamy of BJP

We agreed to let Kumaraswamy speak on Trust Vote, says Madhuswamy of BJP

I have to decide resignations and address concern raised by Krishna Byre Gowda, says Speaker Ramesh Kumar

Congress MLA Krishna Byre Gowda, who is speaking now, says Supreme Court’s interim order has created a confusion on the validity of the whip issued. He the sought Speaker’s direction on the whip.

The Congresss has said that it would want a decision on the rebel MLAs by the Speaker before the trust vote is held.

BJP MLA Madhuswamy objects to raising a point of order on SC ruling over rebels presence in the house, saying, "If CLP leader thinks his powers are curtailed, let him go before the Supreme Court. The house should restrict its business only to the confidence motion."

H K Patil said,''Speaker should take cognisance of a whip and take action against members who violate it. Otherwise, the whip will be reduced to just a piece of paper.''

Speaker Ramesh Kumar said,''Siddaramaiah has made a submission that the SC, in its petition, has held a view that members who are petitioners in the SC are not to be compelled to attend proceedings. He further contends that as leader of the Congress he has not been impleaded as a respondent and has been restrained from doing his duty. We hold the SC in highest esteem. (Tells Siddaramaiah) Let me make it clear, this office is not restraining you to exercise any of your authorities. If you want to implead in the Court to be a respondent, you are at liberty to do so. I will not prevent it.''

Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy who had resigned as a rebel, is now present in the Assembly. He has already said he would be withdrawing his resignation.

Speaker tries to get House to floor test, but JD(S), Congress MLAs try to delay.

KS Eshwarappa says Siddaramaiah is misusing this forum.

Hitting back at the former CM, BS Yeddyurappa said,"Siddaramaiah could have appeared before the SC and asked to be made party to the petition. Why did he not?".

"It is the BJP which is compelling rebel MLAs not to attend the proceedings by arranging flights for them and making them stay away,'' says Siddaramaiah

Siddaramaiah says 10 rebel MLAs petitioned the SC under Article 32. In that petition, respondents are state of Karnataka through Chief Secy, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, CM HD Kumaraswamy and Union of India. Me or the Congress Party are not party to this petition.

Disqualification possible only if members resign voluntarily, or disobey the party whip. All rebel MLAs as a group are trying to bring down a legitimately formed government. I have the authority to issue whip, and it is their duty, as per the 10th Schedule, to obey it.

Speaking in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah says he is the leader of the Opposition. "Oh sorry, leader of Congress party," Siddaramaiah corrects himself even as his comment leaves BJP MLAs in splits.

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy said,''I have self-respect and so do my ministers. I have to make some clarifications. Who is responsible for destabilising this government?.''

Supreme Court’s interim order silent on whip issued, says Former CM Siddaramaiah

Senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar objects the coalition’s delay tactics. He was objecting to the long speeches made by the Congress and JD(S) leaders in the assembly. The coalition finds itself in deep trouble as 18 MLAs have abstained from the proceedings.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Shrimant Balasaheb Patil, who had gone 'missing' from the Windflower Prakruthi Resort in Bengaluru ahead of the crucial floor test in Karnataka Assembly on Thursday, was today found in Mumbai. He is currently admitted to a hospital in Mumbai after he complained of chest pain.

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar appreciates Siddaramaiah and sought cooperation from all leaders, urges legislators to maintain the decorum of the House. He also said that he will give Opposition members also the chance to speak.

BJP members have taken objection to what they call delaying tactics by Siddaramaiah. The MLAs said that Siddaramaiah cannot take an entire day to introduce one point of order just to save his government.

Siddaramaiah quotes rules relating to disqualification of members.

Siddaramaiah, while speaking in the House says that the political atmosphere of the entire country has been polluted. He also remembers the contribution made by Rajiv Gandhi to the anti-defection law.

List of Rebel MLAs who skipped the assembly session:

S T Somashekar, Byrathi Basavaraj, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Munirathna, Roshan Baig, H Vishwanath, Mahesh Kumathalli, Pratapgouda Patil, Sudhakar, Shivaram Hebbar, Srimanth Patil, MTB Nagaraj, Narayana Gowda, Gopalaiah, BC Patil, Anand Singh, B Nagendra and R Shankar

A war of words has broken out in the assembly between D K Shivakumar of the Congress and K G Bopaiah of the BJP.

Here is how the numbers look now

With 18 abstaining, the strength of the House is down to 207. The House has 225 members including the Speaker, who will vote one case of a tie. This means in the 224 members house, the strength is currently 206 and the magic number is now 103. The Congress and JD(S) currently have 100 and the BJP 107 with the support of the two independent MLAs.

There are MLAs who have changed three parties in one day, says Siddaramaiah.

Former CM Siddaramaiah speaks on constitutional crisis in Karnataka.

In addition to the rebel MLAs, 2 Congress and 1 BSP MLA have abstained from the House. 15 rebel MLAs are not present in the House. Shrimanth Patil and Nagendra of the Congress and N Mahesh of the BSP too are not present.

Siddaramaiah, former chief minister of Karnataka, who was accused by Deve Gowda of engineering the crisis is speaking on he floor of the house.

BSP MLA N Mahesh is not present in the House. He had earlier said that he would remain neutral. This signals more trouble for the coalition as he had aligned with the JD(S) during the 2018 assembly elections that were held in Karnataka.

We are taking the trust vote, because some MLAs have left the coalition.

Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy lauds Speaker Ramesh Kumar, praises him for unbiased attitude.

We need to unite for the development of Karnataka. Our government has too many challenges and hurdles, says Kumaraswamy.

BJP MLAs enter assembly raising slogans 'raja huli (lion king) ja' referring to their leader BS Yeddyurappa.

Meanwhile, N Mahesh, BSP MLA is not present in the House during trust motion.

BS Yeddyurappa rose to speak before the Motion of Trust was tabled. He said that he would request the Speaker to allot time to MLAs judicially so that the trust vote is held today itself.

They want us out of power at any cost says HDK after moving floor test

The rebels have levelled baseless allegations against me. They went to the Supreme Court with the help of the BJP, says Kumaraswamy. The Opposition is hell bent on dissolving the coalition says Kumaraswamy.

Events have shown that even the role of the Speaker has been put into jeopardy by some legislators.

''I haven't come just because there is a question on whether I can run a coalition government or not. Events have shown that even the role of the Speaker has been put under jeopardy by some legislators,'' says CM HD Kumaraswamy in Vidhana Soudha

Kumaraswamy asks Yeddyurappa why he is in such a hurry to get on with the trust vote. While pressing for a discussion, he says that many MLAs had said that they are happy with him. Some may have lost respect, but I still have some shame and self-respect he says.

H D Kumaraswamy moves confidence motion in Assembly.

Conduct the floor test in a manner that respects the verdict of the Supreme Court and upholds the rights of every MLA, Yeddyurappa urges the Speaker.

BJP president, B S Yedyurappa is addressing the House ahead of the floor test. The test will decide the fate of the Kumaraswamy led government.

Assembly session begins. Kumaraswamy to take floor test today

"We shall stick to our decision and will not take back resignations. We shall not follow Ramalinga Reddy," say rebel MLAs.

The BJP meets with Speaker Ramesh Kumar, demands that the floor test be conducted at any cost today.

Traffic jam on roads leading to Vidhana Soudha.

Congress MLAs arrive in VidhanaSoudha to attend the session

The rebels have remained firm. They are still camping in Mumbai and say that they are not following Ramalinga Reddy, who changed his stance and decided to support the Congress-JD(S) coalition.

How the numbers stand

Ahead of the trust vote here is a quick look at the numbers: In the 225 member assembly the coalition has 118 MLAs. The two Independent MLAs have supported the BJP, which takes the numbers of the party to 107 ie 105 plus 2. If the resignations are accepted then the strength of the coalition falls to 100. If Ramalinga Reddy who had resigned backs the Congress, the strength goes to 101, but the government would be reduced to a minority.

Senior BJP leader R Ashoka arrives in Vidhana Soudha

The Congress and JD(S) notwithstanding the Supreme Court ruling that gave the rebels the right to abstain has gone ahead and issued a whip to all its MLAs. The parties have exercised their discretion under the anti-defection law.

The proceedings in the assembly are expected to start at 11 am.

The BSP’s N Mahesh has decided to remain neutral during the trust vote.

The Speaker of the Karnataka legislative assembly, who has been at the centre of the controversy has arrived at Vidhan Soudha.

AICC Working President Eshwar Khandre arrives at former CM Siddaramaiah’s office in VidhanaSoudha

H D Kumaraswamy arrives at the Vidhan Soudha ahead of the floor test.

I have decided to abstain from voting, says BSP MLA N Mahesh.

B S Yeddyurappa holds meeting with party MLAs ahead of trust vote. The trust vote proceedings begin in the assembly at 11 am.

BSP MLA N Mahesh abstains from voting.

BJP delegation to meet Speaker Ramesh Kumar and request him to end trust vote proceedings today itself.

Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar reportedly loses cool at Congress MLAs over Srimanth Patil leaving the private resort.

Roshan Baig, who was detained and questioned in connection with the IMA scam likely to give trust vote a miss.

Speaker Ramesh Kumar leaves for the Karnataka legislative assembly. He will preside over the floor test to be held later today.

Ramalinga Reddy assured that he would attend the session today. He has left his home and will take part in the trust vote today.

BS Yeddyurappa said,''We are 101 per cent confident. They are less than 100, we are 105. There is no doubt that their motion will be defeated.''

Key leaders have started arriving at the Vidhan Soudha premises ahead of the 11 am trust vote. Siddaramaiah was seen entering the premises.

BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa & BJP MLAs arrive at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

According to reports, Section 144 imposed within 2km radius of Vidhan Soudha ahead of trust vote

Kumaraswamy has reportedly ordered three dissident MLAs from the Janata Dal (secular) to attend the confidence vote. He also warned that if they did not participate in the proceedings or voted against the state, action would be taken under the Prohibition Act.

Public Works Department Minister HD Revanna, who has been accused of interfering in decisions beyond his department, on Wednesday appealed to the rebel legislators — now holed up in a hotel in Mumbai — to return.

Congress leader claims many Congress rebels will vote for govt, says Congress-JD(S) will pass trust vote

Congress on Thursday filed a complaint with the police saying they are unable to locate MLA Shivaram Hebbar. Hebbar is a rebel staying in Mumbai.

Minister for Urban Development and the lone Congress MLA from Dakshina Kannada district U.T. Khader on Wednesday said the motion of vote of confidence need not be taken up for voting on the day it will be tabled on Thursday.

Minister for Urban Development and the lone Congress MLA from Dakshina Kannada district U.T. Khader on Wednesday said the motion of vote of confidence need not be taken up for voting on the day it will be tabled on Thursday.

The other rebel MLAs camping in Mumbai said there was no question of stepping back on their resignations or attending the session.

Will they or won’t they is the big question. Rebels keep everyone guessing both about their decision and whereabouts. Congress makes hectic efforts to reach out to rebels.

Congress MLA Shrimant Balasaheb Patil went missing from the resort ahead of the trust vote in Karnataka assembly. According to reports, He was last seen in the resort at around 8 pm.

Security tightened in and around Vidhan Soudha ahead of trust vote

Not just the assembly. All eyes would be on the airport as well. Over the past couple of days, several MLAs have landed and left Bengaluru.

All eyes are on rebel MLAs. While Ramalinga Reddy said that he would vote for the Congress, the rest who are in Mumbai have stuck to their stand and said that they are not attending assembly.

All parties are in a huddle ahead of the trust vote. Plenty of strategy meetings are on to ensure that the government does not fall.

Kumaraswamy could seek a debate on the motion. This means members of both the ruling party and opposition will speak on the motion. Kumaraswamy would then reply at the end.

If voting is to take place, then the Speaker will put the motion to vote.

A division bell will be rung following which all members of the House would need to be seated.

All doors of the assembly hall will be closed after the bell. No member can leave or enter the House.

The Speaker will then seek a division of votes row by row, which would be both for and against the motion.

D K Shivakumar of the Congress has appealed to the rebels to be part of the trust vote. They are valuable to us and I am sure good sense would prevail over them, he said.

Independent MLA, H Nagesh arrives in Bengaluru. He was seen leaving the airport in BJP leader, R Ashoka’s vehicle.

The Janata Dal (S) has issued a whip to the rebel MLAs, H Vishwanath, Narayan Gowda and H Gopalaiah to vote in favour of the government. The three MLAs however have the protection of the Supreme Court, which said that they cannot be forced to attend the assembly during the trust vote.

More trouble for the coalition. Congress MLA, Shrimant Patil is said to be missing from the resort where the Congress MLAs are holed up. He is said to be missing since 8 pm yesterday and the party has made all attempts to locate him, including search for him at the airport.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the Speaker a free hand to decide on the resignations of the 16 MLAs. 13 from the Congress and 3 from the JD(S) resigned. The court however did not fix a time frame for the Speaker, but said that whenever he takes a decision, the same would be placed before the court. The SC also said that the MLAs cannot be forced to take part in Thursday’s proceedings.

In all 16 rebels had resigned, but in a late night u-turn, Ramalinga Reddy said he would stay with the Congress and vote in favour of the government. Even if Reddy were to side with the Congress, the strength of the coalition would be just 101.

The BJP on the other hand 105 on its own. In addition to this it has the support of two independent MLAs, taking its strength to 107 in a House now that needs 105.

As the events progress, it would be interesting to see if more MLAs would stay away from the House. There is uncertainty about N Mahesh, the BSP MLA, who had a pre-poll alliance with the JD(S).

Ramalinga Reddy does u-turn. Says will back government