BJP mulls no-confidence motion against Karnataka Speaker

Bengaluru, July 27

A day after it came to power in Karnataka, the BJP is contemplating bringing a no-confidence motion against Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar if he did not voluntarily vacate the post, party sources said on Saturday.

The message has been discreetly conveyed to Kumar to give up the post, which is conventionally held by a member from the ruling party, they said.

“We will move the no-confidence motion against the Speaker if he himself does not resign,” a ruling BJP MLA told PTI requesting anonymity.

The legislator said, “Our first agenda is to win the confidence motion and get the finance bill passed on Monday. We will wait and see whether the Speaker steps down on his own.”

The MLA sought to know how there could be a Speaker from the opposition party.

“Once we win the confidence of the House, we will go ahead with moving the no-confidence motion,” he said.

In a sudden turn of events, the BJP led by BS Yediyurappa came to power on Friday, barely 24 hours after the Speaker disqualified the three MLAs--Ramesh Jarkiholi and Mahesh Kumathalli of the Congress and independent MLA R Shankar.

The Speaker had indicated that in a couple of days, he would take a decision regarding the rest of the MLAs, including three from the JD(S). PTI