Bangalore:
The fate of the Yeddyurappa government could now be decided on Thursday. The Karnataka High Court ruling on the 11 disqualified rebel BJP MLAs, who approached the court against their disqualification by the Speaker last Monday, will resume today again.
A two judge bench headed by the Chief Justice could not agree on a verdict on Monday and the matter was referred to a single judge bench.
The rebel MLAs were disqualified by Speaker K G Bopaiah along with five independent MLAs under the provision of the anti-defection law on October 10. The case of the five independent MLAs will be heard on November 2 by a larger bench.
The 16 MLAs were disqualified by the Speaker K G Bopaiah under anti-defection laws. Their decision to withdraw support to the BJP government nudged Chief Minister BS Yedduyrappa towards a minority. But after the Speaker disqualified them, the numbers changed and favoured Yeddyurappa who then went on to win two votes of confidence in the Assembly.
The High Court had made it clear, however, that its decision on the 16 rebel MLAs would impact the vote of confidence won by the government.
Here's a look at the different scenarios that could emerge once the High Court decides on the fate of the disqualified MLAs.
Post-judgement scenarioIf the 11 rebel BJP MLAs and five Independent MLAs win the total number of seats in the Assembly will be 224. The BJP will continue to have 106 MLAs, a strength it had mustered at the second trust vote. The Opposition will have a strength of 116 MLAs, since the majority mark would go up to 113. This scenario would spell trouble for Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa.
But if the 16 disqualified MLAs lose their case in the High Court, the total number of seats in the Assembly will go down to 208. The BJP will continue to have a strength of 106 MLAs. The Opposition will be left with 99 MLAs. (One Congress MLA has resigned from the Assembly) Since the majority mark in this scenario would be 105, the Yeddyurappa government will stay.
If the 11 BJP MLAs are disqualified and the five Independents are allowed to vote, the total number of seats would go up to 213. The BJP will continue to have a strength of 106 but the Opposition's numbers would go up from 99 to 104, bolstered by the five Independents. Since the majority mark in this case would be 107, the Yeddyurappa government would be one short of majority.
Congress ProtestMeanwhile, in a fresh blow to the Congress, SV Ramachandra, an MLA, resigned from the Assembly yesterday. This triggered a protest by the Congress outside Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's house.
Over 50 Congress MLAs were arrested late on Tuesday night. The Opposition has now been reduced to 99 in the present 208-member House.