Karnataka Floor Test: Kumaraswamy govt falls after failing to prove majority, loses by 105-99 votes

The Congress-JDS coalition government led by HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka collapsed after it failed to prove majority during the trust vote in the assembly on Tuesday. Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar announced that 99 MLAs had voted in favour of the motion and 105 against it. The Congress-JDS government had defied the two deadlines set by Governor Vajubhai Vala to Kumaraswamy to demonstrate his majority on Friday itself. A wave of resignations had set off the political turbulence in the state, pushing the 14-month old coalition government to the brink of collapse.

"It’s the victory of people of Karnataka. It’s the end of an era of corrupt & unholy alliance. We promise a stable & able governance to the people of Karnataka. Together we will make Karnataka prosperous again," the Karnataka BJP tweeted soon after the trust vote.

It’s the victory of people of Karnataka.

It’s the end of an era of corrupt & unholy alliance.

We promise a stable & able governance to the people of Karnataka.

Together we will make Karnataka prosperous again ✌🏽

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 23, 2019

Over the last weeks, 16 coalition legislators have resigned and two Independents withdrew support to the government and the trust vote had been pending since last week. Hours before the trust vote, there was a high drama in the northern part of Benagaluru as Congress and the BJP workers came to blows. The Congress workers had tried to forcibly take away two independent lawmakers, who switched sides, to the assembly to vote for the coalition.

Known for his emotional speeches, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said he was ready to "sacrifice" his post happily, as he replied to the confidence motion debate in the assembly.

"I am ready to happily sacrifice this position," Kumaraswamy said after the assembly debated the confidence motion for four days. He also said he had no intention to drag the trust vote and added, "I apologise to the Speaker and the people of the state."

Kumaraswamy also said discussions were on why he had not resigned and was sticking to the chair.

He said when the 2018 assembly polls results were out, he had plans to quit politics. "My political entry itself was all of a sudden and unexpected," he said. 

BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa, who is set to be the next chief minister, said: It's the victory of democracy. People were fed up with the Kumaraswamy government. I want to assure the people of karnataka that a new era of development will start now onwards. Farmers are suffering due to drought and other factors, we assure farmers that we will give them more importance to live happily and take appropriate decisions as early as possible.

After the trust vote, BJP lawmaker JC Madhuswamy said: “For 14 months, the people were upset that we were not in power. We saw this in BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha polls. No matter what happens, this is good for the state. Would like to thank 105 MLAs for their support without complaining at any time. They have been patient and we have won the appreciation of the people. We will keep their faith alive once we officially take oath.”