Bengaluru, Oct. 11: Angry BJP leaders, who had initially celebrated their victory, announced they would parade their MLAs before the President in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Reacting on the issue, the BJP chief, Mr Nitin Gadkari said, “In the last few days, an attempt was made by the Congress and the JD-S to destabilise the democratically elected government by using money and power. Many MLAs were bought and pressurised. An attempt was also made to misuse democratic institutions.”
The BJP national vice-president, Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said “Karnataka Governor’s recommendation of President’s Rule is nothing but a pre-written Congress script against the government of Karnataka. Congress from the very beginning is misusing the governor’s office for its political purposes and has converted the Raj Bhavan of Karnataka into a Congress Bhavan.”
Eight BJP Chief Ministers from different states will meet in New Delhi to continue the battle against the move to impose President’s rule, Mr Yeddyurappa announced.
“Though I won the trust vote, Mr Bhardwaj recommended the imposition of President’s rule which is unconstitutional,” he thundered at a press conference, in a clear indication, the BJP plans to make the impending dismissal of the BJP government in Karnataka a national issue.
Earlier, Mr Yeddyurappa “won” the “confidence motion by a voice vote amid pandemonium which saw the marshals roughed up by legislators and media personnel being denied entry into the Assembly hall.
Even before the House assembled for the vote, tempers had started running high over the disqualification issue with the rebel MLAs entering the House by overpowering the guards. Once they were inside, the rebels and the ruling party members engaged in acrimonious exchanges.
Five MLAs including two Congress legislators, took position at the door through which the Speaker was to enter the hall.
However, security men rushed to the spot and ensured that the Speaker could enter the hall and take his seat. Minutes later, the confidence motion was read out and Mr Bopaiah put the motion to a voice vote.
The entire process was completed within five minutes before the Speaker adjourned the House. “Since the Opposition did not demand a division of votes, voting did not take place,” said the Speaker, while defending his decision to relay on a voice vote.
Though the Congress paraded its MLAs before Mr Bhardwaj later, the Assembly registrar tells a different story.
“According to our records, 105 ruling party MLAs and 38 opposition MLAs signed the register,” Mr Bopaiah claimed.
The Non-BJP parties in Karnataka are not in a position to provide a viable alternative and stability in the state.
The Karnataka Congress said, “The question of exploring the possibility of forming a government has not come to our mind. If there is such a possibility, our high command will take a decision. Currently, we have not thought of it.”
The JD(S) leader, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy, has also said there were no plans to form an alternate government with the Congress.