BJP MLAs disrupted proceedings in the Karnataka Assembly for the second day in a row on Thursday by chanting slogans and staging a walkout during Governor Vajubhai Vala's speech. BJP MLAs protested that the coalition government in Karnataka do not have the support of the requisite number of legislators after as many as 9 Congress MLAs and 1 JD(S) MLA skipped the joint Assembly session at the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday.
"We do not support the Governor's speech since this coalition government does not have the support of its MLAs. Congress MLAs are saying their Chief Minister is Siddaramaiah and not Kumaraswamy," Leader of Opposition BS Yeddyurappa claimed.
"Step down, step down. Chief Minister, step down!" BJP legislators screamed, alleging that the JD(S)-Congress coalition government is in power despite not having majority.
However, Yeddyurappa stopped short of seeking a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
In the Assembly, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the proceedings till Friday as the BJP members continued their protest and refused to return to their seats to allow Assembly proceedings to continue.
The nine missing Congress MLAs include four MLAs who have been absconding since mid-January when Congress herded its legislators to the Eagleton Resort accusing the BJP of trying to poach them. The four missing MLAs are Ramesh Jharkiholi, Mahesh Kumatalli, Umesh Jadhav and B Nagendra.
This was in spite of a whip issued by Chief Whip of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government Ganesh Hukkeri asking all MLAs to be present at the Assembly session beginning on Wednesday.
The coalition government is set to present its second budget on Friday. At the same time, Leader of Opposition Yeddyurappa is set to address the media from the Vidhana Soudha's Opposition Leader's office.
In the 225-member Assembly, including one nominated from the Anglo-Indian community, the Congress has 80 legislators, including the Speaker, JD (S) has 37 MLAs, the BJP has 104 and there are two Independents and one from the BSP.
With IANS inputs