Opportunistic alliance born out of fractured mandate: Omar Abdullah on Kumaraswamy resignation

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday called the Congress-JDS coalition in Karnataka 'opportunistic'. This came after Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy submitted his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhawan for failing to prove majority. The confidence motion moved by Kumaraswamy received 99 votes in favour and 105 against it. Vala accepted his resignation, adding that the JDS chief will continue to be the care taker chief minister of Karnataka until the next government is formed in the politically unstable state.

Omar in reply to a tweet wrote, “It’s hardly the death of democracy. As with all post poll coalitions this one was also an opportunistic alliance born out of a fractured mandate. It will give birth to another opportunistic government born out of resort/hotel stays & private jet flights (sic).”

Omar was replying to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti who called the government collapse as black day for democracy. “After all the paid for lavish trips to influence Karnataka lawmakers in Mumbai, what can one make of the HD Kumaraswamy led Cong-JD(S) govt collapse? It’s a black day for democracy when a country that prides in being the worlds largest democracy watches an elected govt crumble (sic),” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.

The trust vote was taken up on Tuesday after defying two deadlines set by Governor Vala to Kumaraswamy, asking to demonstrate his majority on Friday itself. A wave of resignations had triggered the political turbulence in the state, pushing the 14-month old coalition government to the brink of collapse. As many as 16 rebel MLAs - 13 from the Congress and 3 from JDS - have resigned and two Independents withdrew their support to the coalition government in southern state.

Hours before the floor test, the Assembly also witnessed high-voltage politicial drama as workers from both the BJP and Congress party 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 and he has no greed to remain in power. "I am ready to happily sacrifice this position," the JDS chief said as 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".