Karnataka trust vote subject to legislators’ plea: Court

BANGALORE - The Karnataka High Court Wednesday ruled that the result of the trust vote Thursday in the state legislative assembly would be subject to its judgment on the disqualification of the five independent legislators by the speaker.

The floor test to be held tomorrow (Thursday) will be subject to the ruling by this bench in the amended writ petition filed by the five independents against their disqualification by the speaker, a division bench of the high court, headed by chief justice K.S. Khehar and justice N. Kumar ruled.

The BJP government in Karnataka has been in the thick of a crisis since 11 of its legislators, along with five independents, rebelled against the leadership of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The speaker disqualified the rebels early Monday in response to a petition by the ruling party after they submitted a joint letter to the governor Oct 6, withdrawing support to the 29-month-old first BJP government in the southern state and expressing lack of faith in the leadership of Yeddyurappa.

The disqualification enabled the tottering government to win the trust vote Monday, as the strength of the 225-member assembly, including one nominated member (Anglo Indian), was reduced to 208, with the half-mark to prove majority now becoming 105.

The 16 rebel legislators had gone to the high court against their disqualification by Speaker K.G. Bopaiah.

Yeddyurappa Tuesday agreed to take a floor test again Thursday to prove his majority as recommended by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj.