Bengaluru, July 22: Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Monday summoned rebel MLAs to meet him at his office at 11 am on July 23. The Speaker asked rebel legislators to meet him after the JDS-Congress coalition government sought their disqualification. The development indicates a crucial floor test for deciding the fate of the JDS-Congress coalition government may be deferred again. Meanwhile, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy also sought time till July 24 (Wednesday) to prove majority.

According to a state government official, the floor test would be conducted after the Supreme Court order on two joint petitions before its three-judge bench. "Though the debate on the confidence motion Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy moved on July 18 will resume at 11 am, as many members of the ruling allies want to speak, the Speaker will wait for completing it (debate) and the apex court order," a legislative official told IANS. BS Yeddyurappa Predicts HD Kumaraswamy Govt's End After Monday's Trust Vote, Claims to Have Majority.

The JDS-Congress has challenged the apex court's July 17 interim order that their 15 rebel legislators who resigned would not be compelled to attend the Assembly for the floor test. The Speaker will also wait for the top court's order on the joint petition two Independents R Shankar and H Nagesh filed on Sunday for its directive to hold the floor test by 5 pm on Monday to avoid further delay. HD Kumaraswamy Ready to Give Up CM Post, Says DK Shivakumar.

With 15 rebel legislators, including 12 from the Congress and 3 JD-S, resigning from the house, and two Independents withdrawing support, the 14-month coalition government is facing an imminent defeat in the Assembly as the former refused to withdraw their resignations or attend the session for voting in its favour during the floor test. (With agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2019 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).