As Karnataka government falls, Omar Abdullah disagrees with Mehbooba Mufti over ‘black day for democracy’ take on Congress-JD(S) coalition's collapse

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti termed the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka as a ‘black day for democracy’. However, another former J&K CM Omar Abdullah didn’t agree with her statement and termed the previous government as an ’opportunistic alliance born out of a fractured mandate’. Both the leaders also had a point to make over the drama that involved MLAs being stationed at hotels outside Karnataka in the past few weeks.

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As soon the numbers of the floor test in the Assembly were announced, BJP’s 105 trumping the coalition’s 99, Mufti tweeted, “After all the paid for lavish trips to influence Karnataka lawmakers in Mumbai, what can one make of the HD Kumaraswamy led Cong-JD(S) govt collapse? It’s a black day for democracy when a country that prides in being the worlds largest democracy watches an elected govt crumble.” (sic). 

Abdullah, however, didn’t agree with her statement and wrote, “It’s hardly the death of democracy. As with all post poll coalitions this one was also an opportunistic alliance born out of a fractured mandate. It will give birth to another opportunistic government born out of resort/hotel stays & private jet flights.” 

READ: ‘Karnataka Rid Of Its 20 Percent Sarkara': BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar Takes A Dig At The Congress-JD(S) Coalition As Kumaraswamy Govt Falls

The HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JDS coalition government fell on Tuesday after losing the trust vote which was finally allowed to happen, weeks after over a dozen coalition MLAs mass-resigned. 

Following delaying tactics over the last several days, with numerous MLAs still stationed in Mumbai and the Supreme Court also hearing pleas seeking to compel the Karnataka Speaker to conduct the trust vote, the Kumaraswamy government managed just 99 votes in the assembly versus the BJP's 105. 3 MLAs abstained from voting, as did 15 rebels in the 223-member house.

Kumaraswamy is now expected to go to the Governor's residence and tender his resignation, while the BJP, which now has the numbers, is likely to stake claim to forming a government in the state.