The opposition Congress on Monday said it will not move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government in the state legislative assembly stating that it does not have required numbers to bring down the BJP government.
“We expect the BJP government to fall on its own. We will not move a no confidence motion. If the BJP government has any respect for the constitution, they should not present the Budget,” Siddaramaiah, leader of the opposition said. Talking to reporters, here, he said though the BJP government enjoys a majority on the paper, it does not enjoy the support of some of the ministers close to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. “The government will fall on its own. If government respects the Constitution, it should recommend dissolution of the House, and seek a fresh mandate,” Siddaramaiah added.
Commenting on Governor H R Bhardwaj’s speech to the joint session of the state legislature, he said “It was a bundle of lies.”
“There is no new point in the governor’s speech. The government has completely failed in law and order, power generation and state finances. The government has hardly mobilized 46 per cent of the budgeted revenues for the current fiscal and borrowed huge sum of money amounting to Rs 26,000 crore by end of March this year. It has no money to spend for the development works,” he said.
Recently, 14 rebel legislators of the ruling party have quit the assembly, while resignations of two more legislators are pending with speaker K G Bopaiah. The 14 resignations have reduced the strength of the ruling party to 106 from 120, including the speaker in the assembly. The BJP has the support of one of the seven Independents who is a cabinet minister. The nominated member is also a BJP member.
The combined opposition strength, including six independents is 103. If Bopaiah accepts the two pending resignations, the BJP will be down to 104, including the speaker.
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Among the 14 who have quit the assembly and the BJP are party’s former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and 12 of his supporters in the party.
Opposition parties have been vociferous in demanding that Shettar should quit and not present the budget for next fiscal not only because his majority is in doubt but also because elections are due in May. But Shettar is determined to present the budget on February 8.
“There is no threat to my government. I will present the budget as scheduled,” he told reporters after the Governor’s address.