Political Crisis in Karnataka | Key Events Occurred so far
The politics of Karnataka is going through serious crisis since last week and specially from last Thursday, since Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy introduced confidence motion in Karnataka assembly for consideration, debate and voting. The crisis is now become complex and multi layered.
The issue started in the second week of July when almost 16 MLAs of the ruling coalition submitted their resignation to Karnataka Assembly speaker K R Ramesh Kumar. The total strength of elected representatives of Karnataka Assembly is 224. Party wise strength before resignation was BJP 105, Congress 79, JD(S) 37, BSP 1 and 2 independent. Now after resignation of Congress and JD(S) MLAs (if accepted by Speaker) the strength of coalition would come down to 101 (including Speaker) from 116 compared to BJP's 105. Also two independent MLAs withdrew their support from the coalition government and announced their support to BJP.
Key Events occurred so far:-
1. Speaker rejects 8 out of 13 resignations:- Days after 13 coalition MLAs submitted their resignation from Assembly, speaker K R Ramesh Kumar on Tuesday, July 9 rejected 8 out of 13 resignations for not being in order and asked them to send letters as per the correct format. He also asked five MLAs whose resignations were in order to meet him personally.
2. Resort Politics:- Meanwhile the focus of Karnataka politics shifted to Mumbai where the rebel MLAs stationed in a resort. Senior Congress leader and Water Resource Minister of Karnataka D K Shivkumar reached Mumbai on Wednesday July 10, to make last attempt to pacify rebel MLAs. However he was not allowed to meet them and section 144 was imposed outside the hotel. He and other senior Mumbai Congress leader Milind Deora and Naseem Khan and Congress workers were detained by the Mumbai Police for violating the prohibitory orders. Later Mumbai Police released all Congress leaders and sent Shivkumar to Bengaluru.
3. Matter in the Supreme Court:- On July 11, the Supreme Court directed Karnataka Legislative Assembly speaker to decide on the resignation tendered by rebel MLAs. The Court also allowed the rebel MLAs to appear before the Speaker at 6 pm (on July 11) to tender their resignation and directed Speaker to decide on the resignation on that day itself.
Hours after Supreme Court passed order against Karnataka Speaker, K R Ramesh Kumar moved to the Supreme Court seeking recall of the order.
On July 17, the Supreme Court gave its verdict after hearing all three parties, rebel MLAs represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker represented by senior advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Karnataka Chief Minister represented by senior advocate Rajiv Dhawan. The Supreme Court in its order directed Speaker to decide on the resignations of the rebel Congress and JD(s) MLAs within an "appropriate time frame". However the Court refrained from laying down any particular time frame. It also ordered that the 15 MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in the proceeding of the House.
4. Confidence Motion:- One day after the Supreme Court pronounced interim order, on July 18 Karnataka Chef Minister H D Kumaraswamy moved trust vote in the Assembly at 11 am. CM Kumaraswamy initiated debate on trust vote. After CM, Congress Legislative Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was the next speaker. Then twist came when he raised point of order. He said, "Defection is a big blow to the foundation of the constitution and a menace that corrupts politics, the spirit behind anti defection law". The principle reason behind raising point of order was the right of legislative party leader to issue whip. On the one side CLP leader Siddaramaiah issued whip to all his party MLAs and on the other side in the judgement the Supreme Court gave relief to rebel MLAs from attending the Assembly session. Siddaramaiah further said "It is indirectly curtailing my right under Tenth Schedule of the constitution, when we are not the even party to the petition." After this another senior Congress leader and Karnataka Cabinet Minister Krishna Byre Gowda raised point of order and urged Speaker not to take vote on trust motion before taking decision on the resignation of rebel MLAs.
5. What is Point of Order? Rule 376 of the "Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha" defines the rules related to Point of Order. Point of order is related to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules of procedure or such articles of the Constitution which regulate the business of the house, raised in the House for the decision of the Chair.
376. (1) A point of order shall relate to the interpretation or enforcement of these rules or such Articles of the Constitution as regulate the business of the House and shall raise a question which is within the cognizance of the Speaker.
(2) A point of order may be raised in relation to the business before the House at the moment:
Provided that the Speaker may permit a member to raise a point of order during the interval between the termination of one item of business and the commencement of another if it relates to maintenance of order in, or arrangement of business before, the House.
(3) Subject to conditions referred to in sub-rules (1) and (2) a member may formulate a point of order and the Speaker shall decide whether the point raised is a point of order and if so, the decision of the Speaker thereon, shall be final.
(4) No debate shall be allowed on a point of order, but the Speaker, if thinks fit, may hear members before giving the decision.
7. Timeline given by the Governor:- After the heated exchange on point of order and the right of a political party to issue whip to its MLAs, the next heated discussion took place on the message conveyed by the Governor to the Speaker. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala conveyed message to the Chair and gave him time limit to complete the procedure and voting on confidence motion.The debate took place on whether the Governor can intervene in the business of the House or not. Senior Congress leader Krishna Byre Gowda argued that the Governor can stipulate time for the Chief Minister to seek confidence motion when he feels he has lost majority. "But this case is different. Here the Chief Minister has already moved the motion and is under debate. The motion is the property of the House". He further cited judgements of the Supreme Court to strengthen his argument that Governor cannot intervene in this matter and set deadlines. On the other side BJP said the Governor has the right to intervene. Meanwhile the allegations of horse trading charges caused heated exchange in the Assembly.
8. CM, Congress move Supreme Court:- Karnataka Congress moved the Supreme Court stating that its July 17 order on the resignation of 15 rebel MLAs compromise the party's right to issue whip. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy moved to the Supreme Court seeking clarification on its July 17 order. He said "Governor cannot direct the House on the manner in which debate of Confidence motion has to take place"
9. Vote of Confidence on Monday:- The Speaker adjourned the House on Friday after the CM and CLP leader assured the House that the voting process on Confidence motion will be completed on Monday.
Stay tuned for more updates. Feel free to comment.
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The issue started in the second week of July when almost 16 MLAs of the ruling coalition submitted their resignation to Karnataka Assembly speaker K R Ramesh Kumar. The total strength of elected representatives of Karnataka Assembly is 224. Party wise strength before resignation was BJP 105, Congress 79, JD(S) 37, BSP 1 and 2 independent. Now after resignation of Congress and JD(S) MLAs (if accepted by Speaker) the strength of coalition would come down to 101 (including Speaker) from 116 compared to BJP's 105. Also two independent MLAs withdrew their support from the coalition government and announced their support to BJP.
Key Events occurred so far:-
1. Speaker rejects 8 out of 13 resignations:- Days after 13 coalition MLAs submitted their resignation from Assembly, speaker K R Ramesh Kumar on Tuesday, July 9 rejected 8 out of 13 resignations for not being in order and asked them to send letters as per the correct format. He also asked five MLAs whose resignations were in order to meet him personally.
2. Resort Politics:- Meanwhile the focus of Karnataka politics shifted to Mumbai where the rebel MLAs stationed in a resort. Senior Congress leader and Water Resource Minister of Karnataka D K Shivkumar reached Mumbai on Wednesday July 10, to make last attempt to pacify rebel MLAs. However he was not allowed to meet them and section 144 was imposed outside the hotel. He and other senior Mumbai Congress leader Milind Deora and Naseem Khan and Congress workers were detained by the Mumbai Police for violating the prohibitory orders. Later Mumbai Police released all Congress leaders and sent Shivkumar to Bengaluru.
3. Matter in the Supreme Court:- On July 11, the Supreme Court directed Karnataka Legislative Assembly speaker to decide on the resignation tendered by rebel MLAs. The Court also allowed the rebel MLAs to appear before the Speaker at 6 pm (on July 11) to tender their resignation and directed Speaker to decide on the resignation on that day itself.
Hours after Supreme Court passed order against Karnataka Speaker, K R Ramesh Kumar moved to the Supreme Court seeking recall of the order.
On July 17, the Supreme Court gave its verdict after hearing all three parties, rebel MLAs represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker represented by senior advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Karnataka Chief Minister represented by senior advocate Rajiv Dhawan. The Supreme Court in its order directed Speaker to decide on the resignations of the rebel Congress and JD(s) MLAs within an "appropriate time frame". However the Court refrained from laying down any particular time frame. It also ordered that the 15 MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in the proceeding of the House.
4. Confidence Motion:- One day after the Supreme Court pronounced interim order, on July 18 Karnataka Chef Minister H D Kumaraswamy moved trust vote in the Assembly at 11 am. CM Kumaraswamy initiated debate on trust vote. After CM, Congress Legislative Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was the next speaker. Then twist came when he raised point of order. He said, "Defection is a big blow to the foundation of the constitution and a menace that corrupts politics, the spirit behind anti defection law". The principle reason behind raising point of order was the right of legislative party leader to issue whip. On the one side CLP leader Siddaramaiah issued whip to all his party MLAs and on the other side in the judgement the Supreme Court gave relief to rebel MLAs from attending the Assembly session. Siddaramaiah further said "It is indirectly curtailing my right under Tenth Schedule of the constitution, when we are not the even party to the petition." After this another senior Congress leader and Karnataka Cabinet Minister Krishna Byre Gowda raised point of order and urged Speaker not to take vote on trust motion before taking decision on the resignation of rebel MLAs.
5. What is Point of Order? Rule 376 of the "Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha" defines the rules related to Point of Order. Point of order is related to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules of procedure or such articles of the Constitution which regulate the business of the house, raised in the House for the decision of the Chair.
376. (1) A point of order shall relate to the interpretation or enforcement of these rules or such Articles of the Constitution as regulate the business of the House and shall raise a question which is within the cognizance of the Speaker.
(2) A point of order may be raised in relation to the business before the House at the moment:
Provided that the Speaker may permit a member to raise a point of order during the interval between the termination of one item of business and the commencement of another if it relates to maintenance of order in, or arrangement of business before, the House.
(3) Subject to conditions referred to in sub-rules (1) and (2) a member may formulate a point of order and the Speaker shall decide whether the point raised is a point of order and if so, the decision of the Speaker thereon, shall be final.
(4) No debate shall be allowed on a point of order, but the Speaker, if thinks fit, may hear members before giving the decision.
6. Whip under Schedule 10:- Whip in simple words is a direction issued by political party to its MLAs/MLCs/MPs and they are bound to follow the whip to avoid defection. Under the Tenth Schedule of Constitution, a member is disqualified from the membership of the house if he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by the political party to which he belongs it means he disobeys the Party decision and votes on the issue in contravention to Party's whip.
7. Timeline given by the Governor:- After the heated exchange on point of order and the right of a political party to issue whip to its MLAs, the next heated discussion took place on the message conveyed by the Governor to the Speaker. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala conveyed message to the Chair and gave him time limit to complete the procedure and voting on confidence motion.The debate took place on whether the Governor can intervene in the business of the House or not. Senior Congress leader Krishna Byre Gowda argued that the Governor can stipulate time for the Chief Minister to seek confidence motion when he feels he has lost majority. "But this case is different. Here the Chief Minister has already moved the motion and is under debate. The motion is the property of the House". He further cited judgements of the Supreme Court to strengthen his argument that Governor cannot intervene in this matter and set deadlines. On the other side BJP said the Governor has the right to intervene. Meanwhile the allegations of horse trading charges caused heated exchange in the Assembly.
8. CM, Congress move Supreme Court:- Karnataka Congress moved the Supreme Court stating that its July 17 order on the resignation of 15 rebel MLAs compromise the party's right to issue whip. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy moved to the Supreme Court seeking clarification on its July 17 order. He said "Governor cannot direct the House on the manner in which debate of Confidence motion has to take place"
9. Vote of Confidence on Monday:- The Speaker adjourned the House on Friday after the CM and CLP leader assured the House that the voting process on Confidence motion will be completed on Monday.
Stay tuned for more updates. Feel free to comment.
This blog is now on Telegam. For reports on Economics, Current Affairs and more, subscribe this blog on Telegam.
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