The three-day-old BS Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka collapsed today, with the Chief Minister announcing his decision to resign without facing a trust vote. The Supreme Court had yesterday ordered a floor test in the Karnataka Assembly at 4 pm today, drastically slashing the 15-day window given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to BJP Chief Minister to prove his majority.
“I am going to resign as chief minister....I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation. I will not face confidence vote,” he told the Assembly after a brief emotional speech. Yeddyurappa said he would now “go to the people“.
The 75-year-old Lingayat stalwart’s resignation will pave the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) State chief H D Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 224-member House with an effective strength of 221.
The political instability in the State stemmed from a split verdict the electorate gave on May 15, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party but falling short of a majority.
The Congress, which finished second with 78 seats, moved swiftly and stitched an alliance with the 37-member JD(S), and even backed its leader HD Kumaraswamy for chief ministership, plunging the State into a welter of confusion, with accusations of bribery and poaching flying thick and fast.
Amid allegations of poaching attempts by the BJP, the Congress herded its MLAs at a resort outside Bengaluru, while those of the JD(S) hunkered down in a hotel in the State capital. They were later shifted to a hotel in Hyderabad and returned only after the Supreme Court yesterday ordered a floor test on a Congress-JD(S) petition.
As things grew murkier, the Congress released audio tape where Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa was purportedly heard trying to lure an MLA with the promise of a ministerial berth if he backed the BJP government during the trust vote. There were allegations that Congress MLA Anand Singh was “abducted” by the BJP, but he turned up at the Vidhana Sauda minutes before Yeddyurappa began his speech. He was seen shaking hands with fellow Congress members and then sat with them.
An emotional Yeddyurappa gave enough indications of his resignation during his speech when he said, ”I have seen the struggle of farmers, gave land to them, wiped their tears. I wanted to waive their loans up to ₹1 lakh, but...”
He recalled his struggles as a politician, and said how he helped build the party, which once had just two MLAs. Now it has 104, he said.
“I went to the houses of the poor, stayed with them. I have faced trial by fire all my life, but I will serve my people till my last breath,” Yeddyurappa said, his voice choking as he fought back tears.
Regaining composure, Yeddyurappa said he would now travel across Karnataka and ensure the party wins all 28 seats of the State in the Lok Sabha elections and 156 in the next Assembly polls. The eight-term MLA and twice an MP, Yeddyurappa then announced his decision to step down.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who, along with several top party leaders were present during the floor test, thanked the judiciary for preventing “horse-trading” and "protecting the Constitution, democracy and rule of law“. Azad said the governor gave 15 days' time to Yeddyurappa as he was convinced he lacked the support of MLAs required to clear the floor test. “The governor gave them two weeks for breaking our parties... for horse-trading.” He said the alliance was now waiting for an invitation from the governor to form the government.
It was Yeddyurappa’s shortest stint in power. He became the Chief Minister for the first time for seven days in 2007, but his government collapsed as the JD(S) reneged on honouring a power-sharing arrangement and withdrew support. He became the Chief Minister for a second time when the BJP formed its first government in Karnataka in 2008.
Yeddyurappa was at the helm of the State for over three years before he was made to quit follwong indictment by the Lokayukta in an alleged mining scam.