JOIN USWhen Speaker K G Bopaiah took the chair the Assembly was charged with the combined Opposition raising a storm over Bopaiah’s decision to disqualify 16 legislators. Even as the Congress and JD(S) shouted slogans, Yeddyurappa moved a one-line motion which said: “This House expresses confidence in the Government led by me.”
All hell broke loose when the Speaker put the motion to a voice vote, braving the Opposition members gathered around his chair. Disqualified MLAs Goolihatti Shekhar, M P Narendraswamy hurled abuses at the treasury benches. The independents were heard accusing that they ruined their fate by supporting the BJP.
The Opposition members unsettled chairs, tore papers, stood on tables screaming at the top of their voices questioning the way the session was being conducted. Nothing much could be heard in the din. Around 20 marshals surrounded the Speaker’s podium to shield Bopaiah. A visibly agitated Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah and Congress leader D K Shivakumar climbed on the tables in front of their seats and attempted to jump on to Speaker’s podium. City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari along with 25-30 policemen entered the House. The din in the house reached a crescendo. A reporter watching the proceedings in the press gallery was hit by a part of a microphone. As the pandemonium continued, a few legislators climbed on the Assembly secretary’s table and threw papers in the air.
As members in the Opposition benches were engaged in making accusations, nobody demanded for division necessitating the Speaker declare that motion had been won by voice vote, adjourned the House sine die and left the Assembly. The disqualified MLAs were very much present in the House when the motion was passed.