Bengaluru: The Karnataka government led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday won the confidence motion with a voice vote in the new Assembly after opposition BJP members walked out ahead of the floor test.
“The confidence motion has been put to vote and won by a voice vote in favour of Kumaraswamy,” declared newly elected Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar.
The Janata Dal-Secular (JD(S))-Congress coalition government won the floor test as 116 members voiced their favour for the confidence motion.
After addressing the members and replying to an emotional speech by opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leader B.S. Yeddyurappa, Kumaraswamy moved the motion, saying “I seek the support of this house to the confidence motion”.
The Speaker then put the motion to vote, which was backed by 116 members, including 36 of the JD(S), 77 of the Congress and one each of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janata Party and an Independent through voice.
Speaker Kumar did not vote.
As the 104 members of the BJP walked out before the floor test, Kumar declared that Kumaraswamy had won the motion by 116 voice votes with none against.
“All our 104 MLAs walked out of the Assembly after opposition leader B.S. Yeddyurappa addressed the House to protest against the unholy alliance of the JD(S) and Congress,” a party leader said.
Though the Assembly strength is 225, including one nominated member, elections were held on May 12 in 222 constituencies only, which threw up a hung house, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 104 seats.
Earlier, pro tem Speaker K.G. Bopaiah announced Congress legislator K.R. Ramesh Kumar has been elected unopposed as the Karnataka Assembly Speaker on Friday.
Congress legislative party leader Siddaramaiah proposed Kumar’s name for the Speaker’s post, which was seconded by Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara.
Ramesh Kumar was elected the Speaker after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) senior legislator S. Suresh Kumar withdrew his nomination for the Speaker’s post minutes before the Assembly session began.
The 68-year-old Congress legislator is a six-time MLA who won the May Assembly election from Srinivaspur in Kolar district.
Ramesh Kumar has been elected the Speaker for a second time after his first term when Janata Dal-Secular (JD(S)) leader H.D. Deve Gowda was the Chief Minister (1994-96).
He was also the Health and Family Welfare Minister in former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s cabinet.
