Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yediyurappa, who was sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of the state, will seek confidence vote in the Karnataka Assembly here on Monday. Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala, who had administered the oath of office to B S Yeddyurappa on Friday last, had directed him to prove his majority in the house within one week. With the depletion of the strength of the Karnataka Assembly from 225 member house to 208 following disqualification of as many as 17 rebel MLAs, including 14 from the Congress, Yediyurappa is expected to sail through the floor test as he enjoys the simple majority in the House. To ensure the unity of the members in the house, the ruling BJP had issued whip to all its members to be present during the session and vote in favour of Yediyurappa, during floor test.
The BJP which has its own strength of 105 MLAs, also supported by a lone independent MLA, Nagesh while the BSP MLA, who was expelled from the party for defying party’s diktat during floor test last week, is expected to remain neutral or once again choose to remain absent from the house. Chief minister B S Yediyurappa, immediately after winning the floor test is expected to put the Finance bill for the year 2019-20, which would enable the state government get the sanction to go for expenditure including that of payment of salaries and perks to the state government’s employees.
The Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah had convened a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party and had issued whip to its members to present in the house and vote against the BJP government. The Congress, however, has decided to vote in favour of the Finance bill, the sources added.
(UNI)
