Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa won the trust vote in the assembly, marking the formal start of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) first government in southern India.
BANGALORE: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday won the trust vote in the assembly, marking the formal start of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) first government in southern India.
The one-line motion of confidence was approved by voice vote by BJP members and independents supporting the government as opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) members walked out of the house at the end of a two-hour discussion on the motion moved by Yeddyurappa.
In the 225-member house that includes a nominated member, the BJP has 110 members and has the support of six independents who are cabinet ministres. The Congress has 80 legislators and the JD-S 28.
The Congress forced a discussion on the motion although Yeddyurappa sought its acceptance without a debate. Speaker Jagadish Shettar allotted two hours for discussion.
Moving the motion, Yeddyurappa appealed for cooperation from the Congress and the JD-S to make Karnataka a model state in the country.
"The ruling and opposition parties have almost equal strength in the house. Hence it is essential that we cooperate to tackle the problems facing the people and make Karnataka a model state," he said.
The Congress and the JD-S defended their walkout saying the Yeddyurappa government, which took office May 30, had not shown interest in solving the problems of farmers and had failed to cut sales tax on petro products following on Wednesday's hike in fuel prices.
Earlier, Governor Rameshwar Thakur addressed the joint sitting of the two houses of the legislature and spelt out the development programmes of the Yeddyurappa government.
Referring to the crumbling infrastructure of India's IT hub, Thakur said the government will set up a separate cell to focus on completing pending civic projects and initiating new schemes to expand the basic amenities.
Admitting unplanned growth of Bangalore had choked the city with heavy vehicular traffic, led to deficiencies in water supply and sanitation, and pushed up the pollution level, he said the cell would also tackle pressing issues related to regularisation of unauthorised constructions.
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