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Karnataka CM still in trouble Bangalore, October 11 The Governor, after having individually counted the MLAs who were against the continuation of the government, found their number to be 120, a fact that reduced the government to minority status in the 224-member Assembly — 113 MLAs required for simple majority. While the Governor has recommended that the Assembly be kept in an animated suspension, the future of the 28-month-old BJP government in the state hangs in balance. The MLAs — from opposition Congress and JD(S), and the rebel BJP and Independent legislators — went to meet the Governor after the Speaker declared Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa the winner of the trust vote following a voice vote taken in the special session of the Assembly held here today. Earlier in the morning, Bopaiah disqualified 16 MLAs — 11 BJP rebels and five Independents — under the anti-defection law. Disqualification of the MLAs brought down the effective strength of the House to 208, allowing the BJP (with 105 members) to retain its majority status in the House. There was pandemonium in the Assembly when the disqualified MLAs in the company of JD(S) legislators tried to enter the House despite the Assembly Speaker giving them instructions to keep away from the proceedings. A scuffle also broke out inside the Assembly hall and a thinly built marshal collapsed after being shoved around by some hefty opposition MLAs. The marshal was later hospitalised. Bangalore city police commissioner Shankar Bidari also faced the wrath of the opposition MLAs when he tried to the door used by the Speaker. Later, the city police justified Bidari’s action — widely criticised by the opposition parties since armed cops are not allowed inside the Assembly — by producing a handwritten letter from the Speaker asking for the deployment of police “since the situation is out of control”.While the Speaker was earlier given ‘Z’ category security in view of the turbulent nature of the session, police had also removed from the Assembly premises flower pots and other objects that could be used as “missiles” by agitated lawmakers. Governor Bhardwaj, who wrote to the Speaker yesterday asking him to refrain from disqualifying any member before the trust vote and got a stinging reply from the Speaker in return, felt the disqualification of the MLAs was legally untenable and unethical. Bhardwaj, who had earlier attracted controversies for his open criticism of the state government on more than one occasion, also took exception to the presence of three ministers in the Assembly who are members of the Legislative Council. While ministers can ordinarily attend an Assembly session, Council members are not supposed to be present when a session has been called exclusively to hold a confidence vote. Nineteen MLAs — 14 from the BJP and five Independents supporting the government — wrote a joint letter to the Governor on October 6 withdrawing support to the government. Bhardwaj then asked Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in the House by October 12. The rebel MLAs, who were slapped show cause notices on Friday (October 8) and asked to reply by Sunday, have also filed a petition in the High Court here challenging their disqualification by the Speaker. The court has listed the case for 10:30 in the morning tomorrow. The Centre is expected to take a decision on the imposition of President’s Rule in the state after taking into consideration the view the court takes tomorrow on the issue of the disqualification of MLAs. Day of chaos Pandemonium in Assembly as MLAs rough up a marshal; later cops in uniform enter the House Cong, JD(S), Independent and rebel BJP MLAs meet Governor after Speaker declares Yeddy the winner of trust vote Rebel MLAs file a petition in the High Court challenging their disqualification; case listed for 10.30 am on Tuesday
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