Karnataka Congress MLA Siddu Bhimappa Nyamgouda passes away

Congress MLA Siddu Bhimappa Nyamgouda was killed in a road accident near Karnataka’s Tulasigeri. Nyamagouda was on the way to his constituency Jamkhandi from Goa when the car he was travelling in tried to avoid a lorry and hit a roadside parapet wall, District Superintendent of PoliceVamshikumar told PTI. He had suffered severe injuries and died instantly, the police added. He is survived by wife, two sons and three daughters.

The 69-year-old MLA had won the Jamkhandi seat in the recently concluded Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018. Pitted against BJP’s Kulkarni Shrikant Subrao, Nyamgouda won the Assembly seat with a margin of 2795 votes. He had also won the seat in the 2013 Assembly polls.

“Deepest condolences on the passing away of our senior leader and Jamkhandi MLA, Shri Siddu B Nyamagouda. The Congress party stands by his family in this hour of grief,” Congress’ Karnataka handle posted on Twitter.

After a tough contest for power, JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy was sworn-in as the chief minister of Karnataka. Seen as the precursor to the 2019 General Elections, Karnataka polls resulted in a fractured verdict. with BJP emerging as the single largest party winning 104 seats. With BJP just short of the majority–112 seats–required to form the government, the Congress and JD(S) stitched a post-poll alliance to stake the claim to the government with the support of 117 members.

The high-stakes drama that started during the election campaigning, continued till the floor test of Kumaraswamy during which the BJP staged a walkout calling the JD(S)-Congress alliance “unholy.”

Kumaraswamy was invited to form the government after BJP leader tendered his resignation for failing to get the magic numbers in the Assembly. In an emotional speech in the Assembly, Yeddyurappa said, “Those who were swearing on the names of each other’s fathers and calling each other names before polls, have now come together to form this unholy alliance.

Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy to face floor test today; BJP fields nominee for speaker's post

Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy will face a floor test on Friday, which he is widely expected to sail through, barring any unforeseeable events, ending the 10-day political uncertainty in the state.

BJP's BS Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as the chief minister + on May 17, had stepped down two days later in the face of imminent defeat without going through the motions + of a floor test.

Unfazed by Yeddyurappa's unceremonious exit, the BJP today fielded its senior leader S Suresh Kumar, a fifth term MLA, for the post of the speaker + whose election will precede the trust vote.

Ramesh Kumar of Congress too filed his nomination for the post as the candidate of the ruling coalition.

"Based on the strength of numbers and various other factors, our party leaders have confidence that I will win. With that confidence I have filed my nomination," the BJP candidate said, indicating that the saffron party was keen on giving the JD(S)-Congress alliance a run for its money.

When asked about his chances of winning, the BJP nominee said, "I have filed my nomination. There is election tomorrow at 12:15 pm. After the election you will get to know."

Congress Legislature Party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah exuded confidence about the coalition candidate's victory.

"I got to know that the BJP has also filed nomination. I hope they will withdraw. If election happens, Ramesh Kumar's victory is certain," he said.

The 224-member assembly has an effective strength of 221, as election for Jayanagar seat was countermanded + following the death of the BJP candidate, and deferred in RR Nagar + over allegations of electoral malpractices.

After taking oath, Kumaraswamy had voiced confidence about winning the floor test, but said he had an apprehension that the BJP would try to repeat "Operation Kamala" to bring down his government.

The term "Operation Kamala" or "Operation Lotus" was coined in 2008, when the BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa took over as the chief minister. The party was short of three MLAs for a simple majority.

As part of "Operation Kamala", named after the BJP's election symbol lotus, some Congress and JD(S) MLAs were persuaded to join the saffron party, relinquish their membership of the assembly, and recontest elections. Their resignations brought down the numbers required for a victory during the trust vote, which Yeddyurappa won.