Karnataka: Governor appoints BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as Pro-Tem Speaker; Congress may move SC

In a setback for Congress party, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Friday appointed BJP MLA KG Bopaiah as Pro-Tem Speaker, ahead of floor test tomorrow.

The Supreme Court has ordered a floor test in the Karnataka Assembly at 4 PM tomorrow, reducing the 15-day window given by the Governor to BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to prove majority.

"Let the House decide and the best course would be floor test," a three-judge bench headed by Justice A K Sikri said.

The assembly secretariat had recommended the names of RV Deshpande of Congress and Umesh Katti of BJP.

Bopaiah, who was speaker between 2009 and 2013, will administer the oath to newly elected legislators in the assembly. Subsequently, he 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. 

"By convention, the senior most speaker of the house is elected as Pro-Tem Speaker. In this case, it is RV Deshpande, but the BJP has sadly asked for a man who's not senior most," said senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Singhvi also said that they may approach the SC to protest against the appointment of Pro-Tem Speaker.

However, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the appointment of Bopaiah is as per rules and regulations. 

"KG Bopaiah was appointed as Pro-Tem Speaker even in 2008 by the then Governor. That time Bopaiah was 10 years younger than what he is today. Congress is thus raising hoax objection," he said.

Earlier in the day, the top court also said the Pro tem speaker will take decisions in accordance with the law on the issue of floor test. 

The bench also asked the newly elected government not to take any major policy decision till it proves majority in the House.

The BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats, followed by the Congress with 78, JD(S) with 37 and three seats have gone to others in the 224-member Assembly where elections were held for 222 seats.

The majority mark is 112 seats and the post-poll alliance strength of the Congress-JD(S) combine, which claims to have 117 MLAs, has alleged foul play in the Governor inviting BJP to form the government.