The Karnataka assembly budget session, which commenced on Wednesday, had to be briefly halted after BJP legislators stormed into the well of the house soon after Governor Vajubhai Vala started delivering his address at the joint session. However, the governor continued to read out his speech.
"The coalition is making the governor read bunch of lies. Where is the government," asked the BJP legislators led by leader of opposition B.S. Yeddyurappa, creating a ruckus in the house. The BJP legislators raised slogans against the government.
With the BJP unrelenting to the requests of the governor, Vala exited the assembly hall within seven minutes of his entry.
When the house resumed after 20 minutes, the BJP chose to remain quiet even as the speaker read out condolence messages over the demise of 111-year-old Siddaganga Mutt seer Sri Shivakumaraswami and former defence minister George Fernandes, among others.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Anand Singh, who was assaulted by his party colleague and MLA J.N. Ganesh arrived for the assembly session, as the party had issued a whip to all its legislators to be present during the entire budget session. While, some members including 'rebel' MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumatalli, B. Nagendra, and Dr Umesh Jadhav abstained from the session despite the whip, Singh who is recuperating from grave injuries to his eyes and rib fracture was wheeled into the house.
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The developments come on a day when rumours of Operation Lotus resuming began doing the rounds as the budget session began on Wednesday. The BJP had said it was not averse to moving a no-confidence motion against the Kumaraswamy-led government.
News agency ANI reported that Congress legislative party leader Siddaramaiah issued another notice to four dissenting party MLAs to give their explanation to him before or after the assembly session.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, is scheduled to present his coalition governments second budget on February 8.
Expressing doubts about budget presentation on February 8, senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister R. Ashoka has claimed that 20 to 25 disgruntled MLAs of the alliance were out of reach of their leaders and the coalition government was in a "coma."
(With inputs from Prathima Nandakumar)
