Kumaraswamy government in Karnataka set for floor test

According to the agenda of the Karnataka Assembly, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will move a confidence motion immediately after the House sits today.

With the ruling combination reduced to 101 following the resignations of the rebel MLAs, the CM short of as many as 12 MLAs to bail out his government in the 225-member Karnataka Assembly.

The Congress and JD(S) leaders, in their bid to win back the rebel MLAs had so far succeeded in pursuing Ramalinga Reddy, and anxiously looking back to see that four of the rebel MLAs, who are very close to Reddy would also follow suit.

The lone member belonging to the BSP, who had sought a separate seat in the Assembly, Mahesh, is yet to take any decision whether to support the government or remain neutral.

"I am waiting for directions from our party supremo Mayawati," the BSP member said.

Two Independent MLAs, who are also ministers in the Kumaraswamy government had also rebelled and extended their support to the BJP.

Former chief minister and the Opposition leader in the Karnataka Assembly, B.S. Yeddyurappa, has held a series of meeting with his party MLAs, stayed at a resort and worked out strategies to defeat the confidence motion in the House.

The BJP, which has a strength of 105 in the house had secured the support of two Independent MLAs. Consequently, it appears that the saffron party is all set to form the government if confidence motion is defeated.

Elaborate security arrangements had been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the House.