Immediately after the Supreme Court's interim order on floor test, the BJP led government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has appealed to the Governor Vajubhai Vala to convene the assembly. Thereafter, as per the court order, a pro tem speaker will be appointed. Eight-time legislators RV Deshpande (Congress) and Umesh Katti (BJP) are doing the rounds for the post of pro tem speaker. The Governor will appoint the pro tem speaker who will administer the oath to newly elected legislators in the assembly.
Subsequently, the pro tem speaker is expected to conduct the election of the speaker under whose supervision the floor test will take place at 4 pm as directed by the apex court.
BJP leader, who did not want to be named, told DNA,'' We will follow the apex court order and carry out floor test.'' However, he hinted that all backroom channels are opened to shore up numbers.
Lok Sabha's former secretary general Subhash Kashyap reiterated that the floor test happens on the floor of the house and not in Raj Bhavan. He said there is a laid down procedure whereby Governor will convene the assembly session followed by the appointment of the pro tem speaker. Thereafter, the speaker will be elected and then the vote will be taken up.
He, however, opined that the proposal for floor test should have come from BJP.
BJP with 104 legislators here are putting up a brave front reiterating that the party has a number and sail through. Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa said he is confident to prove the majority on the floor of the house. However, senior party MPs, few legislators, who are gathered at the party's office, do not want to come on record on how they will shore up numbers.
Congress has 78, JDS has 37, 1-Bahujan Samaj Party and the combine is expecting support from one of the two independents. Congress claimed that they have a support of 117 and alleged that their legislator BS Anand Singh has been abducted by one of the BJP ministers.
Union minister Prakash Javadekar said his party was ready and confident to win the trust vote.
BJP MP Shoba Karandlaje went on to claim that the party has a support of 120 legislators. ''No problem we are confident to prove the majority on the floor of house,''she noted.
On its part, visibly charged leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Gulam Nabi Azad and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the party was ready to face the floor test. However, the duo blasted BJP and the Government of India in particular for allegedly exerting pressure on the party legislators. They said Yeddyurappa will be defeated on the floor of house.
Janata Dal (secular) Danish Ali also said his party was confident to defeat Yeddyurappa in the assembly. ''Yeddyurappa for want of numbers may resign and not face the vote as done by former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee,'' he viewed.
