High-voltage drama in Karnataka Assembly again but trust vote pushed back

House has been adjourned till 10 am on Tuesday.

Discussions to conclude by 4 pm and CM Kumaraswamy has been directed to give his response by 5 pm. Trust vote is scheduled to conclude by 6 pm.

Speaker has served notice to rebel MLAs, giving them time till 11 AM tomorrow. BJP is trying to convince them that they won't be disqualified & they will be made ministers. As per Constitution of India, you can't be made a member once you're disqualified: DK Shivakumar

It is getting outright ugly within Vidhana Soudha. Now, Kumaraswamy says false rumours of his possible resignation being spread.

"I got information that I have tendered my resignation to the Governor. I don't know who is waiting to become CM. Someone has forged my signature and spread the same on social media. I'm shocked at the cheap level of publicity," he says.

Speaker Ramesh Kumar sends a stern message after Congress MLA HK Patil says speaking and debating on trust vote would only be right after Supreme Court takes a decision tomorrow.

"Don't push me to a point where I'll have to take a decision without asking you. The consequences will be disastrous."

CM had promised that he will finish it (trust vote) today and prove the majority today. Now I've spoken to Sunil, the chief Whip, over finishing it today. We will be in the house till 12 am: BS Yeddyurappa

Ruckus continues in Assembly. Speaker Ramesh Kumar says he is ready to sit till midnight if required.

He also held a meeting with CM Kumaraswamy, Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara, Sa Ra Mahesh(JDS), Krishna Byre Gowda (Congress) & Siddaramaiah (Congress), in his chamber a while back.

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar holds a meeting with BJP leaders-Sunil Kumar, Basavaraj Bommai, CT Ravi & JDS leaders-Sa Ra Mahesh, HD Revanna, Bandeppa Kashempur, in his chamber at Vidhana Soudha.

MLAs continue to stay inside the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru even as the session has been adjourned for 10 minutes.

Home Minister MB Patil has called an official meeting with Commissioner of Police to discuss about zero traffic reportedly given to rebel MLAs when they came back to Bengaluru to meet the speaker: ANI

ANI reports:

Home Minister MB Patil at Vidhana Soudha: Only because Governor had asked us to provide them (rebel MLAs) security, we did that. Zero traffic was not provided to them.

JD(S) MLA, AT Ramaswamy walked out of the Vidhana Soudha following this statement on zero traffic reportedly given to rebel MLAs. Ramaswamy had said, "If Home Minister is lying blatantly in front of the House, how can I stay here?"

Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar pulls up lawmakers, says "each member will speak only for 10 minutes"

#Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru: Each member will speak only for 10 minutes. Don’t make me say this again and again. pic.twitter.com/6onm7voPO9

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2019

Former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah claims that the rebel MLAs would side with the ruling Congress-JDS coalition if they come back.

"If the rebel MLAs come back then they will be with us. Rebels have told that they are not living comfortably, they could have stayed back here itself...Speaker will take a call on confidence motion. We have already said that we would prove the confidence in Vidhana Soudha. Case is pending in Supreme Court. We have also filed the petition, most probably tomorrow (on Tuesday) Supreme Court will hear our plea," he told mediapersons.

House adjourned till 3.30 pm.

Congress leader Krishna Gowda said that If Speaker does not take a decision on the resignation matter before him, then this dilemma will continue. Either they should not be MLAs or they will have to be MLAs and be present in the house. Gowda added that SC cannot give us a solution. Speaker has 3 options:

1) Resignations can be accepted
2) Resignations can be rejected
3) The MLAs can be disqualified

Even as the flip flop over trust vote in Karnataka Assembly continued on Tuesday, Congress leader DK Shivakumar launched yet another scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of using the Governor of the state in the hurry to come to power.

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar says he is "worried about the people of Karnataka" who voted Congress and JDS to power. "They will be left without an MLA," he says. Referring to ruling alliance's allegations of horse-trading by the BJP, the Speaker seeks documentary evidence, adding that in case of no proof, the claims would be expunged from the records.

Responding to the remarks, minister Krishna Byre Gowda cites an interview of a rebel MLA wherein the latter said that he would join the BJP as he was promised a ministerial berth.

Anand Murthy, an advocate, files a public interest litigation (PIL) in Karnataka High Court, alleging that trust vote is being deliberately delayed, reports news agency ANI.

Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar says that though he cannot set a time-frame for the trust vote, he would request the members of the House to go for trust vote today itself. The Speaker further says, "We usually issue notices to all the MLAs for the session. If the MLAs feel that they're under threat, they can approach me and I will give them security. It's their wish if they want to attend the session or not."

Congress leader and minister DK Shivakumar arrives at Karnataka Assembly:

Bengaluru: Congress leader and State Minister DK Shivakumar arrives at Karnataka Assembly. (earlier visuals) #KarnatakaFloorTest pic.twitter.com/ZoA6vDcRmw

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2019

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has sought more time for floor test. He has requested Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to conduct the floor test on Wednesday. However, no assurance has been given by the Speaker.

Supreme Court refuses to give early hearing on plea by two independent Karnataka MLAs seeking a direction to conclude floor test in Assembly on Monday.

Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar summons rebel MLAs to appear before him at 11 am on July 23.

The Congress hits out at the BJP ahead of trust vote in Karnataka. "For the BJP everything is for sale, forests, farmers lands, rivers. The Karnataka Assembly is no exception," says a tweet on official handle of the Congress party.

For the BJP everything is for sale, forests, farmers lands, rivers. The Karnataka Assembly is no exception. pic.twitter.com/41lM4aM8rN

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 22, 2019

Congress MP BK Hariprasad has given notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267, for suspension of business for discussion over 'Constitutional crisis in Karnataka'.

Ahead of the floor test of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JDS coalition government in Karnataka, security has been beefed up around Vidhana Soudha. Adequate security has been deployed at Vidhana Soudha and Raj Bhavan road, reported news agency ANI.

BJP MLAs leave from Ramada Hotel for Vidhana Soudha; HD Kumaraswamy government will face floor test in the Assembly today.

Bengaluru: BJP MLAs leave from Ramada Hotel for Vidhana Soudha; HD Kumaraswamy government will face floor test in the Assembly today. pic.twitter.com/hBsLndndIQ

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2019

BJP MLAs leave from Ramada Hotel for Vidhana Soudha. The party is slated to hold a meeting before the House proceedings begin.

Bengaluru: BJP MLAs leave from Ramada Hotel for Vidhana Soudha; HD Kumaraswamy government will face floor test in the Assembly today. pic.twitter.com/hBsLndndIQ

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2019

#Karnataka: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, who are lodged at Ramada Hotel, Bengaluru, perform Yoga. Congress-JD(S) coalition government to face floor test in the Assembly today. pic.twitter.com/EbdwO5VQFy

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2019

Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana has hit out at Kumaraswamy, saying the JDS leader must resign at the earliest. Terming the developments in Karnataka as "political drama", the Saamana editorial said that Kumaraswamy was just buying time by holding discussion on the floor of the House. READ FULL STORY

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, who are lodged at Ramada Hotel in Bengaluru, performed Yoga on Monday morning.