The BJP is not tense about facing the second trial of strength as it has the numbers required in the 224-member house, which has been reduced to 208.
For the second time in three days, Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa will seek a trust vote in the state assembly today after governor HR Bhardwaj declared Monday's confidence vote a "farce" and forced the exercise on him.
Yeddyurappa and the BJP are not tense about facing the second trial of strength as they have the required numbers in the 224-member house, which has been reduced to 208 after the controversial disqualification of 16 rebel MLAs.
In the House, the BJP now has 106 members, including the speaker, the Congress has 73, and the JD(S) 28. There is only one independent and there are 16 vacancies.
The ruling side yesterday renewed its "operation lotus" and lured lone independent Varthur Prakash back into its fold.
The BJP now commands the support of 107 MLAs and expects JD(S) member MC Ashwath from Chennappa to lend a hand.
All political parties have issued whips to their members. The BJP has asked its members to vote for the motion while the opposition JD(S) and the Congress have ordered their members to oppose it.
Even after winning the motion of confidence, Yeddyurappa and the BJP cannot rest on its outcome, which is subject to the verdict of the Karnataka high court on a batch of petitions filed by the 16 disqualified MLAs challenging speaker KG Bopaiah's order unseating them.
The petitions are coming up for hearing on October 18. Police have virtually laid siege to the Vidhana Soudha, the state legislature complex, occupying every inch of space to thwart any trouble during the trust vote and avoid the ugly scenes that unfolded on Monday.
On October 11, Yeddyurappa won the trust motion by a voice vote, which was rejected by the governor and questioned by the opposition.
Bhardwaj had on Monday recommended the imposition of president's rule in the state but gave "another opportunity" to Yeddyurappa to prove his strength in the assembly today.
Hours before the trust vote, Yeddyurappa today expressed confidence of winning the vote without any problem.
"101% I will win this. I foresee no problem today. God is with me. MLAs are supporting me and people are supporting me," Yeddyurappa told reporters before visiting a temple to seek divine help.
"I am not bothered about the opposition" was his reply when reporters drew his attention to reports that the Congress and the JD(S) were planning to boycott the House today.
"Why should I worry? The governor has directed me to take the second floor test. I am doing it," he said.
Yeddyurappa lambasted the opposition parties for creating the political turmoil in the state to satiate their lust for power.
"I am not responsible for all the confusion and developments that [the state] is facing now. However, I tender my apologies to the people of the state for the ugly incidents," the chief minister said.
He said he did not anticipate any crossvoting by BJP members during the trust vote in the light of the disqualification of 11 MLAs who betrayed the party.
Yeddyurappa said he would hereafter concentrate on development works.
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