Karnataka govt falls
The 14-month-old coalition government of the Congress and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka lost the trust vote on the floor of the state legislature yesterday, capping nearly three weeks of political turmoil triggered by the resignation of 16 ruling alliance lawmakers.
The defeat of the coalition paved the way for a possible assumption of power by the BJP.
The coalition failed the floor test in the assembly, cobbling up only 99 votes in comparison to the 105 votes of the BJP, which later dubbed it a "Game of Karma".
The demand for trust vote came as 16 legislators—13 of the Congress and three of Janata Dal (S) resigned in the last two weeks and two Independents withdrew support to the government over the last fortnight.
The Congress-Janata Dal (S) coalition assumed power in Karnataka in May last year trumping the Bharatiya Janata Party which had emerged as the single largest party but without majority in the state assembly polls which produced a fractured mandate.
With the support of the two independents, the BJP has 107 legislators, which is two more than the majority mark of 105.
The Congress-JDS government had defied the two deadlines set by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala to Kumaraswamy to prove his majority on Friday last.
"It is victory of democracy… I want to assure people of Karnataka that a new era of development will start now," said state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa, who is set to be the Chief Minister for the fourth time.
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