Government may gamble on finance bill

Bengaluru: Does beleaguered CM H.D. Kumaraswamy have  a magical remedy up his sleeve for the crisis which has gripped his government following the resignations of several legislators? Many got such an impression on Thursday when Mr Kumaraswamy walked into the cabinet hall at Vidhana Soudha, shook hands with everyone even while sporting a broad smile and asserted that nothing would happen to the government.

Sources said Mr Kumaraswamy even wondered loudly why his colleagues looked so worried and asked them to cheer up. During the discussion that followed, he told his Congress colleagues “to ensure that no more legislators switched sides”, adding, “See my game tomorrow. Nothing will happen to the government”.

When the session begins on Friday, the main subject on the agenda is the finance bill which will have to be approved failing which the government cannot draw funds for any expenses, including salaries. For this precise reason, those in the government feel the BJP will not stall the finance bill and more so as there is no precedent of the finance bill being stalled.

Minister Krishna Byregowda told reporters after the cabinet meeting that the government was ready to face the consequences of introducing the finance bill including seeking a vote on it if the BJP insists. Till the Speaker takes a decision on the resignation and disqualification petitions pertaining to the rebel MLAs, they continue to be members of their respective parties and would have to obey the whip issued by their parties to be present in the House failing which they are liable to face action, he said. Sources said Mr Kumaraswamy is also finalising the strategy to be adopted if the opposition BJP moves a no-confidence motion in the Assembly. Even if the no-confidence motion is moved on Friday, the Speaker is likely to take it up only after Monday (Saturday and Sunday are holidays).

By then, the CM is confident of winning over the dissidents, as he has already started talks with a couple of them, sources said.

Coalition leaders are hoping that with the Speaker unlikely to take a decision in a hurry on the disqualification petition and resignations of the rebel MLAs, the rebels will have to fall in line and the finance bill will be passed by the House. At least, two MLAs who resigned, have reportedly assured Mr Kumaraswamy that they would stand by him, if there was voting either on the finance bill or on the no-confidence motion if the BJP moves it, sources added.