Karnataka MLAs slept inside Assembly, Friday big day

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.

#WATCH Bengaluru: K'taka BJP legislators go for a morning walk. They were on an over night 'dharna' at Vidhana Soudha over their demand of floor test. Karnataka Guv Vajubhai Vala has written to the CM,asking him to prove majority of the govt on floor of the House by 1:30 pm today pic.twitter.com/r8yygSyf4X

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2019

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

#WATCH Karnataka: BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa sleeps at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. BJP legislators of the state are on an over night 'dharna' at the Assembly over their demand of floor test. pic.twitter.com/e4z6ypzJPz

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2019

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.

Karnataka BJP MLAs sleeping inside assembly hall #KarnatakaFloorTest pic.twitter.com/FHp7LEW5dT

— Nagarjun Dwarakanath (@nagarjund) July 18, 2019

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.

Finally!! Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala writes to Chief Minister @hd_kumaraswamy, asks him to prove his majority by 1:30 pm tomorrow. Looking forward to the drama coming to its logical end!! pic.twitter.com/2MUEW2pLid

— Priti Gandhi – प्रीति गांधी (@MrsGandhi) July 18, 2019

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.