Ktk CM twice ignores Guv's deadline to prove majority, trust vote delayed to Monday

Tottering on the brink collapse, the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in Karnataka on Friday ignored the Governor's deadline twice for proving the majority on the floor of the state Assembly, setting off a constitutional crisis and a fresh legal battle.

As the assembly failed to take up the voting on the confidence motion to decide the fate of the 14-month-old government, the unending political drama sparked by the resignation of 15 MLAs of the ruling coalition a fortnight ago is set to spill over to next week with Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar adjourning the House till Monday.

All eyes were now on Governor Vajubhai Vala on his next course of action.

Before adjourning the house towards the fag end of the day, the Speaker made it clear that a finality would be put to the motion of confidence moved by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday and the matter would not be prolonged further under any circumstances, to which the government agreed.

Kumaraswamy and the Congress moved the Supreme Court accusing the governor of interfering with the Assembly proceedings when the debate on the trust vote was underway and sought clarification on its July 17 order causing hindrance in issuing whip to the legislators.

The court had held that the MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in the Assembly proceedings.

Kumaraswamy told the apex court that the governor cannot dictate the House on the manner in which the debate of confidence motion has to take place
As he was speaking on the confidence motion, Kumaraswamy said, "I have received the second love letter" from the governor. He has got 'gnanodaya' (awareness) now. Governor talks about horse-trading in the letter... was he not aware of it till now."
"Let us do politics...we are also here...we will not fear and run away. Why couldn't the governor see horse-trading when the MLAs were resigning."
"Caesar's wife should be above suspicion; I cannot be guilty of dragging proceedings."
Kumaraswamy said, "I have made preliminary submission; we can conclude (the process) on Monday."
But BJP leader Suresh Kumar said sanctity of trust vote would be lost if it dragged on and insisted the process be completed Friday itself while his boss B S Yeddyurappa said they are willing to wait till midnight