Karnataka bypolls : BJP government faces Assembly test as Congress-JD(S) eye comeback

BJP government faces its true test in Karnataka on December 5 in Karnataka by-polls, Congress and JD(S) eye to seize back power in state. by-polls which was necessitated by disqualification of 17 rebel MLAs by Speaker Ramesh Kumar was originally to be held on October 21 but was later revised by Election Commission to December 5. Supreme Court too allowed rebel MLAs to contest in Karnataka by-polls, post which 16 rebel MLAs promptly joined BJP.

constituencies which are polling on December 5 are - Athani, Kagw, Gokak, Yellapur, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijayanagar, Chikkaballapur, K.R. Pura, Yeshvanthapura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, Hosakote, Krishnarajpet and Hunsur.

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Karnataka political turmoil:

fall of previous Congress-JD(S) government occurred between July 1 and 10, when 15 Congress and JD(S) MLAs resigned from Assembly. After tendering ir resignation, which was accepted by Speaker after three days of Hotel politics. Most of MLAs were flown to Mumbai and were kept in a resort while y appealed to Supreme Court to accept ir resignations.

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Meanwhile in Karnataka, Congress and JD(S) tried to pacify ir rebel MLAs who h mainly resigned as y were t given cabinet berths in government. Congress strongman D K Shivakumar even travelled to Mumbai to meet MLAs, but to avail. After Supreme Court's intervention, MLAs were me to submit ir resignations to Speaker in person. This led to much-awaited floor test on August 26, where BJP mand to garner 105 votes in truncated assembly, with support of its 104 MLAs and support of an Independent MLA.

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Current scenario

halfway mark in 225-seat Karnataka assembly is 112. After vacuum created by 15 seats vacant in by-polls, BJP holds exactly 50% support (105 seats) in truncated Assembly. By fielding 13 of 16 rebel MLAs, BJP will have have to win at least 8 of 15 seats in by-polls to retain ir government in state. While Congress and JD(S) have t entered in pre-poll alliance, y have hinted at a post-poll alliance looking at by-poll results. Currently, JD(S)-Congress holds 100 seats combined (JD(S)-34 seats, Cong-66). results for by-polls are expected on December 9.

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