The Karnataka drama continued throughout the night as BJPMLAs slept inside the Assembly demanding immediate floor test while Speakerdelayed it despite stern directives from the Governor.

BJP is alleging that Congress-JD(S) was delayed as they were sure to lose. The reaction came soon after Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the assembly in the midst of a heated confidence motion debate.

Eighteen legislators had absented themselves from the houseas it took up the vote of confidence for debate earlier that day.

According to the BJP leader, the Congress-JDS government wasreluctant to face the trust vote because it does not enjoy the confidence ofeither the people or the assembly. "The Chief Minister is reluctant totake up the motion because he has only 98 legislators while we have 105,"he said.

Altogether 16 legislators from the ruling coalition – 13from the Congress and three from the JDS -have resigned over the last fewweeks. This development, combined with two independent candidates withdrawingtheir support, has put the ruling coalition in a precarious position.

The BJP now has 107 legislators with the support of twoindependents, while the JDS-Congress tally could well plummet to 100. Thehalfway mark in the 224-member assembly is 113.