Cong, JD(S) may stay away from trust vote

Soon after Yeddyurappa made his decision to seek vote of confidence on October 14, KPCC President R V Deshpande and Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah and JD (S) leaders H D Kumaraswamy, M C Nanaiah and YSV Datta and disqualified MLA Narendraswamy met the governor for nearly two hours in the evening.  They reportedly expressed their unhappiness over his direction to the Chief Minister to seek vote of confidence again.

The Opposition parties have a strength of just 101 MLAs, while the BJP has 105 members. There are rumours that the BJP is making efforts to ensure that some of the Congress members stay away from the voting. If this happens, the BJP will get more than the required number of votes to remain in power. There are rumours that the JD (S) members may keep off from the session as they have already found fault with the Governor for asking the CM to seek trust vote again.

The Congress members also may prefer to keep off from the floor test arguing that the governor's decision is unconstitutional.

Speaking to reporters, Deshpande wondered why the Governor took such a decision. "I am surprised with his (Governor's) decision to ask the Chief Minister to move the trust motion for the second time. It is unconstitutional," he stated.

When the petition on disqualification of 16 rebels was pending in the court, the Governor should not have given the second chance to the Government. "I do not know what forced him to act in such a way," he added.

CLP meet

The Congress Legislature Party will meet on Wednesday and take an appropriate decision in this regard, he said.

Disqualified independent MLAs said they would take a decision on taking part in the trust vote after consulting legal experts. "It is a legal issue. We are consulting the experts on the issue (participating in the second trust vote in the Assembly). We will announce our decision on Wednesday," Narendraswamy said.

All five disqualified independent MLAs are staying along with the JD(S) legislators in a resort near Bidadi.

HDK unhappy

Speaking to reporters after the meeting with the Governor, Kumaraswamy said it is not proper on the part of the Governor to allow the Chief Minister to prove his majority when the disqualification petition is still pending in the court.

"I believe, the Governor has realised that it is not proper. I hope he will take appropriate steps to set things right", Kumaraswamy, who masterminded the entire crisis, said.
It has been already proved that the Chief Minister has lost majority in the House. Besides, nearly 120 MLAs have given in writing that they are against the Government. Hence, there was no point in the Governor giving second chance to the Chief Minister, he added.

Asked whether his party will participate in the trust vote on Thursday, Kumaraswamy said it would take the decision on Wednesday.