Karnataka crisis: Kumaraswamy government to face trust vote on July 18

Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Monday said that he will take up trust vote on Thursday after the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the plea of rebel MLAs.

The trust vote will be held at 11am on Thursday, Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah confirmed. 

Kumaraswamy had on Friday told the Speaker that he was ready to seek a trust vote or face a no-confidence motion during the session which will go on July 26.

Karnataka government has been reduced to minority in the Assembly after 16 rebel legislators have resigned and 2 Independents withdrew support to it.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday asked Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh to not to decide on the resignations or disqualifications of the MLAs till Tuesday.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that it will consider the issue on Tuesday.

Supreme Court's direction came after ten Congress and JD(S) MLAs had moved the top court, seeking a direction to the Speaker to accept their resignation and not proceed with the applications for their disqualification from the House.

Following which Speaker K R Ramesh had urged the apex court to recall its order which asked him to take a decision on the resignation of MLAs during the course of the day i.e. July 11.

The top court on Tuesday will also hear an impending plea of five rebel MLAs against Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar`s decision to not accept their resignations.

(With inputs from agencies)