BJP and Congress supporters clashed in Bengaluru over two independent MLAs as Karnataka Assembly prepared to vote on the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. Section 144 has been imposed in the Karnataka capital from 6pm onwards today for the next 48 hours, keeping in mind the volatile law and order situation.
City Police Commissioner Alok Kumar, reportedly, said that in addition to prohibitory orders, wine shops, pubs, bars and restaurants will be closed for the next 48 hours.
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Protests broke out at Bengaluru's Race Course Road near the Vidhan Soudha where the two rebel MLAs were housed. Congress workers allegedly arrived to whisk them away to force them to vote for the Congress-JD(S) coalition, but the BJP workers already stationed there prevented it, leading to clashes.
Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy, while replying to the confidence motion debate in the assembly said he was ready to "sacrifice" his post happily.
"I am ready to happily sacrifice this position," Kumaraswamy said after the assembly debated the confidence motion for four days.
He also said he had no intention to drag the trust vote and added, "I apologise to the Speaker and the people of the state."
The coalition had 118 members in the 224-member assembly. If the resignations of the 15 legislators who approached the Supreme Court are accepted, the government will be left with 101 members. With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 legislators, which is two more than the majority mark of 105.