BJP government in Karnataka wins second trust vote (Evening Lead)

BANGALORE - The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) B.S. Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka Thursday survived a second trust vote in the state assembly with a slender majority, getting 106 votes while the combined opposition could muster only 100.

“As per the division of votes, 106 ayes are in favour of the motion and 100 noes against it,” Speaker K.G. Bopaiah ruled as the ruling party legislators cheered, hugged and flashed victory signs in the treasury benches in face of vociferous protests by the opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) members.

Though the floor test is subject to the judgment of the Karnataka High Court where a joint writ petition by the 16 rebel legislators is pending against their disqualification under the anti-defection law, an elated Yeddyurappa said it was a historic day for the people of the state and a victory for democracy.

“I have won the trust vote twice in the span of four days - first by voice-vote Monday and by headcount today (Thursday) as desired by the governor (H.R. Bhardwaj). As per the law, there is no provision for another trust-vote till six months,” Yeddyurappa told reporters after the assembly was adjourned sine die.

With the strength of the 225-member assembly reduced to 209 and the halfway mark required to prove majority at 105 following the disqualification of 11 BJP rebels and five Independents Monday, the ruling party sailed through the motion with the support of Independent member Varthur Prakash and nominated member Dereck Fullinfaw from the Ango-Indian community.

Post-disqualification, despite its own strength declining to 105 from 116, excluding the speaker, the BJP ensured the presence of 104 members, while its legislator Manappa Vajjal abstained from the house.

On the opposition benches, while all the 73 Congress members were present and voted against the motion, the JD-S faced an embarrassment as one of its 28 lawmakers M.C. Ashwath stayed away on the crucial day to oppose the trust vote.

“We have polled 106 votes, one more than the required 105 to win the trust-vote. We have lodged a complaint with the speaker to disqualify Vajjal as he failed to turn up for the special session despite the whip issue Wednesday,” a BJP spokesman told IANS.

Following the rejection of the five independents joint writ petition by the high court Wednesday to attend the session and vote against the government, the speaker barred their entry into the house.

When the house began at 11 a.m. sharp, opposition Congress leader Siddaramiah urged the speaker to postpone the fresh trust vote till the division bench of the high court pronounced the judgment next week or so.

Over-ruling the plea, the speaker directed the chief minister to move the one line-motion and followed it up by asking the lawmakers for a voice-vote.

As hands went up with ayes on the treasury benches and noes in the opposition benches, Siddaramaiah and JD-S leader in the house H.D. Revanna pressed for a division of vote by headcount.

After the headcount was conducted manually in eight rows across the house, Congress legislator and working president D.K. Shivakumar pleaded with the speaker not to declare the result till the high court gave its ruling, as it was binding on the trust vote.

The speaker, however, went ahead and declared the outcome.