Yeddyurappa govt totters, told to take a floor test

Uncertainty gripped Karnataka again after a series of political developments today left the BJP government of B S Yeddyurappa tottering.
Nineteen MLAs supporting the government conveyed lack of confidence in the Chief Minister. Governor H R Bhardwaj promptly asked Yeddyurappa to prove his majority on the floor of the House before 5 pm, October 12.
The rebel MLAs, including 14 BJP members and five independents, have reduced the BJP count from 122 to 103 in a 224-member House where 113 constitutes a simple majority. The rebels are now rallying behind JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy.
The BJP and Yeddyurappa have started moves to win them back by offering ministerial posts to as many as eight rebels. The party has also threatened action under the anti-defection law.
Yeddyurappa sacked four independent MLAs who were ministers — P M Narendraswamy, Shivaraj Tangadagi, D Sudhakar and Venkatramanappa — and announced that at least three more senior ministers would step aside to allow the entry of rebels to save the government. Mining baron and Tourism minister G Janardhan Reddy has been brought in to win back the rebels.