BJP: Have numbers despite court move

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After winning the second trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday, the BJP claimed it had the numbers even if the Karnataka high court had allowed five disqualified Independent MLAs to vote. The party also reiterated its demand of removal of Karnataka governor H.R. Bhardwaj who the party had accused of being “partisan” and a “Congress agent.” BJP’s top brass had met PM Manmohan Singh on Wednesday to demand recalling of Mr Bhardwaj.
Thursday’s trust vote was subject of Karnataka high court pending verdict on petitions filed by 16 disqualified MLAs who had challenged Assembly Speaker’s decision disqualifying them under anti-defection law.
Calling Thursday’s victory as a “historic moment” for both the party and Karnataka, the BJP claimed that the floor test in the state Assembly “conclusively proved” BJP’s stand that it has a majority in the state Assembly. The party got 106 votes in favour in the Assembly which has an effective strength of 208.
“Two MLAs, one from JD(S) and one from BJP, abstained from voting. If that is so, then the factual strength of the Assembly is 206 and the majority mark 103. Even if we presume that on October 18, the court allows the Independent MLAs to vote, we would still have 106 MLAs and the vote of the Speaker, giving us a majority in a House of 213 members,” said BJP national spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
On the issue of Mr Bhardwaj, the party said its victory (during the trust vote) does not “exonerate the governor of his actions which he has done last week and in the last few months.” The party claimed the governor’s role was “still under the scanner for his unconstitutional acts.” “In order to have stability in Karnataka, it is important that the Centre recall or sack the governor today itself,” Mr Rudy said.
Taking a dig at the Congress, the BJP said “After BJP got a majority in the trust votes on October 11 and now October 14, our friends in the Congress, who were till now talking about majority, have stopped talking about majority and are now talking about morality. This shows that we have won.” Accusing the Congress of not happy with the fact that it’s a BJP’s ruled government in Karnataka, the party said it was reflected in the way the governor challenged the Speaker and suggested to the Centre that it should impose President’s Rule in the state.
When asked whether BJP leaders would again meet the PMto demand Mr Bhardwaj’s removal, Mr Rudy said, “We assume that the Prime Minister has good memory. We met him and we have already petitioned the Prime Minister.”
On whether the BJP would take action against the party MLA who abstained from voting, Mr Rudy said, “I think it is a natural consequence that action should be taken when they have gone against the party.”

ENDS