The Karnataka political turmoil seems to have reached to a conclusion for the time being as both the warring parties, the Congress JD( U) combine and the BJP have agreed to a proposal for calling the floor test on Thursday at Bengaluru Vidhana Soudha to finally decide which political party commands the requisite majority to form the government in the southern state.
The former chief minister and BJP leader Yaduruppa had met the speaker and had requested him to call the house for floor test at the earliest but the latter had turned it down as the apex court’s decision of the Karnataka impasse is to be delivered tomorrow evening.
Meanwhile, emerging out of the political affairs committee meeting, the former Congress CM of Karnataka and CLP leader Sidharamaih revealed that after discussions with the Congress JD ( S) combine as well as the BJP the speaker has fixed Thursday for the floor test in the Karnataka Vidhana Soudha.
There will be a detailed debate in the house and the voting will take place thereafter.
This means that now both the Congress JD ( S) alliance and the BJP are quite eager to derive maximum advantage from the impending political crisis and for this, they have three days with them.
Political observers say the ruling coalition leaders will do their best to woo the annoyed dissidents during these 72 precious hours.
However, it remains to be seen whether the obstinate dissidents, now in all 17 in numbers will fall into the Congress JD( S) trap?
It may be recalled that all the dissident lawmakers of Congress and JD(S) are still holed up in a Hotel in Mumbai and are still adamant over resigning from their respective seats. Further, they want to extend their undisputed support to BJP.
They have also lodged a complaint with the highest police authority of Mumbai to provide them adequate security as they fear for their life.
They have also asked the police authorities to not allow any political leader of Mumbai or Karnataka visit them in the hotel as their decision to resign and thereafter also support the BJP is final.
It may be recalled that at the first instance about 14 to 15 MLAs of the Congress and JD( S) had submitted their resignation letters to the speaker followed by two independent and three Congress lawmakers.
This had led to the reduction of the JD(S) Congress strength from earlier 118 to 101 while the BJP’s strength increased to 107 after the support of the two independents.
According to political analysts if the ruling coalition succeeds to persuade a minimum of six of its MLAs if not all, it would still be in a comfortable position to save their government. As for sure one vote of the speaker in the event of a tie would go in their favour.
However, the Karnataka crisis has further aggravated and all eyes are now fixated on tomorrow’s apex court judgement as well as the floor test on Thursday. For now, the Supreme Court has directed the speaker to maintain the status quo.