Bangalore, July 19: A huge drama has unfolded in the political scenario of Karnataka. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has moved a confidence motion in the Assembly to prove that his Congress-JDS coalition government has the majority. The trust vote comes after resignations by MLAs from the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition government since July 6. Karnataka Floor Test Live News Updates: Trust Vote Needs to be Discussed, Cannot be Completed by 1:30 PM, Says HD Kumaraswamy.

On Thursday, Vidhana Soudha Speaker KR Krishna Kumar adjourned the Assembly to meet on Friday at 11 AM for resuming the debate on the confidence motion. Following this, nearly 100 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators were sleeping in the Karnataka Assembly from Thursday night to protest against the delay in taking the floor test by Kumaraswamy. Karnataka Floor Test: Ruckus in Assembly During Debate as Congress, JDS Accuse BJP of Destabilising Kumaraswamy Govt Ahead of Trust Vote.

In a letter by Governor Vajubhai Vala to Kumaraswamy, he has been asked to prove his majority by 1:30 pm today. But the big question that is being asked is as to whether the Anti-Defection Law is applicable here and the MLAs who resigned can be disqualified.

What is the Anti-Defection Law and can it be applied in context to Karnataka political scenario?

Seven Congress MLAs and three of the JD(S) face disqualification for anti-party activities and defying their whips. The question here is whether Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar who has the power to invoke the Anti-deflection law will be able to apply it, keeping in mind the current situation of the state.

The anti-defection law is incorporated in the 10th schedule of the Constitution. Under the law, if a legislator violates the whip of his party or voluntarily gives up the membership of the party, he or she is liable to be disqualified. However, the Supreme Court’s interim order in the Karnataka context totally negates the anti-defection law, where it stated that dissident MLAs cannot be compelled to attend the Karnataka Assembly session. Even today, the 20 MLAs continue to be absent from the Karnataka assembly like on Thursday.

On Sunday, BS Yeddyurappa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  Karnataka President said the Speaker doesn't have the right to disqualify anybody because of the Supreme Court's decision. His statement was in response to DK Shivakumar saying that if rebel MLAs vote against the government, they will be disqualified.

According to reports, when legislators are disqualified under the 10th schedule provision, they cannot become part of a new council of ministers until they are elected again. In this case, one will have to wait and see, if these MLAs could be inducted into the Cabinet in case the coalition government falls and the BJP manages to form the new government.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2019 01:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).