Drama inside Karnataka assembly, BJP stages walkout ahead of floor test

High drama unfolded inside Karnataka assembly on Friday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs walked out ahead of the floor test.

The BJP legislators walked out after former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa said that we will hold a state-wide bandh on May 28, if Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy doesn’t waive off farmer loans.

Yeddyurappa said the JD(S) leader had promised to waive farm loans worth Rs 53,000 crore, including those borrowed from nationalised banks.

"It was you who had promised to waive farm loans within 24 hours (after assuming office). The farmers will not be ready to buy your stories that you head a coalition government and it has its own compulsions. You have to announce it in this special session itself. Else, we will prepare an action plan to launch our agitation across the state," he said.

Seeking the trust vote in the Karnataka assembly, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy asserted that the Congress-JD(S) coalition government would complete its five-year tenure.

He also said he was conscious that he was not running a majority government.

"I am also pained that the people have not placed their trust on me," he said as he moved the motion seeking vote of confidence, apparently referring to his party JD(S) not being given a clear mandate by the voters.

He said, "we will be stable for five years. We will work for the people. We are not here to fulfil our personal interests." Kumaraswamy said neither he nor the Deve Gowda family ever hankered after power, and pointed out that they had spent much of their political life in the opposition.

"I am not hankering after power... nor my (Gowda) family... we have spent much of our political life in the opposition," he added.

Kumaraswamy also said there was a "blot" on JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda after he joined hands with the BJP to form a coalition government in 2006.

He also said the government was committed to waiver of farm loan as promised during the elections.