In an attempt to blunt the opposition campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party government led by him, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has decided to prove its majority on the floor of the assembly on Thursday.
A decision that Yeddyurappa suo moto move a motion seeking a vote of confidence in the assembly was adopted at the BJP legislature party meeting in Bengaluru on Wednesday, state unit party president K S Eswarappa told mediapersons.
Yeddyurappa will move a one-line resolution stating that "this House express confidence in the ministry led by him" after the House completes obituary references to members and dignitaries who passed away during the inter-session period.
The assembly begins its 10-day sitting on Thursday. This is the fourth time Yeddyurappa is seeking a trust vote after he led BJP to victory in 2008 assembly polls and realised the dream of installing the first-ever saffron party government in the south.
Yeddyurappa, whose party won 110 seats out of 224 and fell short by three numbers for a simple majority formed the government with support of six independents on May 30, 2008.
He proved his majority in the first week of June then. On October 11 2010, Yeddyurappa faced the floor test under a directive by Governor H R Bhardwaj after 16 MLAs, including 11 BJP rebels withdrew support to his government.
Though Yeddyurappa won the trust vote by voice vote, Bharadwaj rejected the verdict on the ground that the due procedure of head count was not followed.
After the Centre rejected Bhardwaj's recommendation for dismissing the government, the Governor gave a second chance to Yeddyurappa to take a floor test, which he won on October 14 last.
After the legislature party meeing, Eswarappa said the oppostion Congress and Janata Dal-Secular have been levelling baseless allegations and demanding Chief Minister's resignation, despite the government enjoying full majority.
"To clear doubts among people, BJP has decided to prove its majority on the floor of the House," he said.
He urged the Opposition to participate in the session and raise whatever issues they wished, including corruption charges they have been levelling against the government.
The ruling BJP is also trying to hit back at the Governor who recently recommended dismissal of the government after the Supreme Court set aside the disqualification of 16 MLAs, which was rejected by the Centre.
Soon after BJP opted for a floor test, JD-S, which had decided to boycott the session, said its legislature party would meet on Thursday to discuss the issue and decide on whether to continue the boycott or attend proceedings.
In the 224-member House, BJP has the support of 121 members, while Congress has 71 and JD-S 26. The five independents, who won their membership after the Supreme Court set aside their disqualification have not announced their decision on whether they would support Yeddyurappa's motion.
The house has one vacancy. Following is the party position in the assembly: BJP 119, Cong 71, JD-S 26, Independents six, Speaker one, vacant one.
