Mumbai May 18: BS Yeddyurappa who was sworn-in as the CM of Karnataka just yesterday, has to prove his majority in legislative house by tomorrow itself. Yeddyurappa will be giving his Agniparisksha, which will eventually decide the fate of BJP government. The move has come after the Supreme Court of India ordered immediate floor test, giving a major blow to BJP since it was given 15 days time by Governor Vajubhaio Vala earlier.
The verdict has come against the request of BJP advocate Mukul Rohatgi who argued against ordering immediate floor test, as the party needed some more time. On the other end, Congress party advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi called it a historic decision. However, once the verdict was declared by the apex court, BJP Leader Prakash Javedekar immediately tweeted and said his party is ready with the number 112, required to form a government in Karnataka to prove their majority in the house tomorrow. He also stated that they are confident to continue their government in Karnataka.
The newly-appointed Yeddyurappa will table confidence motion to prove his party majority in front of the pro tem speaker as directed by the court in its order, tomorrow at 4 pm. The pro tem speaker has given the freedom to decide the mode of the test- it could be either in the form of open voting by raising hands or through a voice vote. But the court has discouraged the secret ballot in its verdict today. Voice voting was earlier conducted by BJP in the Maharashtra state assembly while forming their government in the year 2014. The Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra drew flak over the voice vote method. Its own ally Shiv Sena described as 'strangling democracy' and the Congress called 'a black day. Fadnavis government proved it majority thought it was falling short of 22 legislators.
The court in its order also stalled the nomination of Anglo Indian member power with the governor during hung assembly. No major decisions is to be taken by the CM until the floor test is done.
Congress- JD(S) knocked the doors of the Supreme Court after BJP was invited first by the governor Vajubhai Vala to stake claim to form a government. The move drew flak from Congress as they too were contending to form their government with a letter of support they sought from JD(S) party, which was denied. Later the party moved the court and filed a petition to argue on the legality of BS Yeddyurappa's claim to form a government.
Now after courts order, Yeddyurappa has to give Agnipariska. Meanwhile, Congress leaders are confident to win the floor test. While Congress- JD(S) team have moved their MLAs to Hyderabad to protect them from poaching.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 18, 2018 12:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).