Hit by rebellion, Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar clung on even as governor HR Bhardwaj warned on Saturday that he would order a floor test the moment the six-month-old government lost majority.
“The day the government comes into minority, even with one MLA less, I will issue notice (for the floor test),” Bhardwaj told reporters, as Shettar stood next to him after the Republic Day function here. “I will not do any unconstitutional work. I am watching.”
The ruling BJP was shaken on Wednesday after 13 party MLAs — all loyalists of former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa — announced their decision to quit the assembly membership.
If speaker KG Bopaiah accepts the 13 resignations, the BJP’s numbers in the 225-member assembly — effective strength 223 because Yeddyurappa and another MLA have quit — will come down from 118 to 105. Accordingly, the house strength will come down to 210. If a floor test is ordered, the government will need 106 members for a simple majority.
The BJP will still have a bit of breathing space because it has the support of one of the seven independent MLAs.
Bhardwaj said that even with the 13 resignations, the government “is still in majority”.
The BJP will still have a bit of breathing space because it has the support of one of the seven independent MLAs.
Bhardwaj said that even with the 13 resignations, the government “is still in majority”.