HD Kumaraswamy wins trust vote soon after BJP stages walkout

Bengaluru: The 10-day political uncertainty in Karnataka comes to an end after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy wins the floor test.

117 lawmakers have voted in Kumaraswamy's favour.

BJP lawmakers staged a walkout ahead of H D Kumaraswamy's trust vote demanding farm loan waiver.

Read: Waive off farm loan or face state-wide bandh: Yeddy dares HDK

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy moved the motion of confidence in the state assembly and exuded the confidence of sailing through, barring any unforeseeable events. 

Ahead of the trust vote on Friday, Ramesh Kumar of the Congress was unanimously selected as the Speaker to oversee the vote of confidence after senior BJP leader Suresh Kumar withdrew his nomination. 

The BJP on Thursday had fielded its senior leader S Suresh Kumar against the Congress for the post of the Speaker. 

However, BJP's B S Yeddyurappa said, "We withdrew (nomination of BJP candidate) as we wanted the election to be unanimous in order to maintain the dignity of the Speaker's post."

Also Read: Withdrew from Karnataka Speaker race to maintain dignity of post: BJP

Speaking in the House after moving the motion of confidence, Kumarasamy said, “Neither the Janata Dal Secular nor any other party got majority.”

“I am hurt that people didn't choose me. I became the Chief Minister because of coalition, not happy about the position,” he added.

B S Yeddyurappa recognised as opposition leader

BJP legislature B S Yeddyurappa has been recognised as the leader of the opposition in Karnataka Assembly.

Newly-elected Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar made the announcement shortly after his election as the presiding officer of the House. 

Govind Karjol would be the deputy opposition leader, Kumar said.