No-trust vote: Will Cong pull plug?

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In a significant move, a meeting of Congress legislature party (CLP) on Tuesday debated the possibility of moving a no-confidence motion against the new government headed by Jagadish Shettar, but decided to take a final call on the day of voting. A section of the legislators suggested that the Congress should not hesitate to move the no- confidence motion against the government or defeat the Finance bill. These legislators felt that such a step would enable the Congress to establish its strength.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, sources in the party said, “Few senior leaders in the party were of the opinion that the party should not move a no-confidence motion as in the past such efforts have only helped unite the ruling party.” On the Finance bill, the party legislators were divided as one section argued that defeating the crucial bill would set a wrong precedent, and that it was not even attempted till date.

“We are in two minds as supporting tacitly might bring disrepute for colluding with ruling party, but if the bill was passed smoothly we can always claim that the state’s welfare was of utmost concern to us. Therefore, the CLP could not arrive at any conclusion. It was, however, unanimously decided that the party should attend the session in full strength whenever the government moves the Finance bill,” the sources added. The sources said a few other legislators felt the Opposition should allow the ruling party to disintegrate on its own.