After the long drama and at least five failed attempts over the last 14 months, the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka was finally defeated in the confidence motion by six votes: the coalition government got 99 votes, while BS Yediurappa-led led BJP received 105 votes. All the BJP MLAs were present, but 17 coalition MLAs were missing. Just after the voting, HD Kumaraswamy submitted his resignation to the Governor. Although B S Yediyurappa was purportedly the Chief Ministerial candidate, it was only around 9.30 in the morning that BJP working president JP Nadda called him to give the news. The Karnataka Raj Bhawan, which too was kept waiting, hurriedly organised the swearing-in ceremony within hours. A whole game of numbers played out. Yediyurappa did not simply make it back to the CM’s chair by changing the letters of his name back to how it used to be (whether consulting astrology or numerology, who knows). BSY was very enthused about assuming charge as CM on Friday. Now the party of the CM he replaced may come in to ensure stability to the government for the time being— at least till the all-important Finance Bill is passed on a priority basis.
BJP LOOKING TO DESTABILISE CONGRESS IN RAJASTHAN, MP
After the Karnataka defeat, rumours are high in political circles that the Congress governments in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh too will be brought down soon. As it is, 10 Congress MLAs have already left the party in Goa and joined the BJP. However, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, and the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath are working hard to hold on to their MLAs in their respective states. Kamal Nath gathered the support of two BJP MLAs — Sharad Kol (Beohari) and Narayan Tripathi (Maihar) during voting on a Bill in the MP assembly, which demolished the BJP’s hope in Madhya Pradesh. In Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot is a strong man and has a complete hold on his MLAs, with the BJP having only 73 MLAs with the support of 3 RLP MLAs and 1 Independent MLA in the house of 200.It seems that BJP is unable to dislodge the Congress government at present and is depending on senior Congress MLAs who were not included in the Cabinet. With the resignation of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and uncertainty over the new Congress chief, the BJP wants to use the opportunity to destabilise the Congress state governments.
BSY’S FATE HANGS BY RESULTS OF BY-POLLS IN REBEL MLA CONSTITUENCIES
B S Yediyurappa has taken oath as the Karnataka Chief Minister for a record of fourth time. Although the BJP high command wanted that to wait for the decision of the Assembly speaker about the fate of rebels MLAs, but, under pressure, Yediyurappa was allowed to take the CM’s oath immediately. According to sources, Yediyurappa was not the natural choice of BJP high command because he has crossed 75 years of age and is facing many cases of corruption charges in the courts. Because the Speaker has taken the decision to disqualify all 17 rebels MLAs from the Assembly, Yediyurappa is now unable to adjust these rebels MLAs in the Cabinet. If these rebels MLAs were not disqualified and Speaker accepted their resignation, then Yediyurappa could have appointed a few of these renegade MLAs as ministers, and they in turn could have remained in the ministry for 6 months and subsequently fought the by-election. At present, they stand disqualified by the Speaker and the by-election will be held in their constituencies. Once again, the fate of Yediyurappa government will be depend on the result of by-election.
TDP TILTED RAJYA SABHA IN FAVOUR OF BJP ON RTI AMENDMENT
The induction of former TDP members, particularly YS Chowdhary and CM Ramesh, into the BJP has proved to be the biggest coup for the treasury benches in the Rajya Sabha. The duo managed to rope in not only MPs from the leftover TDP and YSRC, but also TRS members tilting the balance in favour of the NDA. Ramesh and Chowdhary went from member to member, convincing them to support the government’s amendments to the RTI Act, helping the treasury to beat the Congress-led opposition in the Upper House for the first time.
CONGRESS TO DECIDE NEW PRESIDENT AT CWC MEET ON AUG 7
A much-awaited meeting of the Congress Working Committee(CWC) to name a new Congress party chief will be held after the Parliament session, which ends on 7 August. According to Congress sources, CWC members have already suggested the names for Congress President and handed over to AICC general secretary in-charge of administration Moti Lal Vohra.As the Karnataka episode ended, and Rahul Gandhi has come back from the US, the CWC will definitely make a consensus for the name in place of Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile, former Lok Sabha member Eknath Gaikwad was appointed as the working president of Mumbai regional Congress committee. (IPA)
Divided Opposition Facilitates BJP Supremacy 