Prove majority, says guv; no need, says Karnataka CM

Governor HR Bhardwaj on Friday made it clear that chief minister Jagadish Shettar would have to prove his majority on the floor of legislative assembly in the wake of 13 BJP MLAs announcing their decision to quit.

Speaking to reporters, Bhardwaj said that he would fulfill the constitutional obligation of addressing the joint session on February 4, but Jagadish Shettar would have to prove his majority before the house takes up any other legislative business after his address.

"It is a constitutional provision that the governor has to address the first session of the new year. Hence I will address the session," said Bhardwaj. "Government transactions will be taken up after the no-confidence test is taken," he said, just before Shettar's visit to Raj Bhavan.

Bhardwaj said he had already prepared a letter saying that in the event he felt Shettar's government was in the minority, he would have to prove majority or undergo a vote of confidence. "I have already summoned the assembly on February 4, so no need of advancing it."

Bhardwaj further stated that Shettar has to bring it to the notice of speaker KG Bopaiah about seeking a confidence vote. "I have already suggested to him that I am not dealing with this," he added.