The Karnataka assembly on Thursday began debate on the trust motion moved by HD Kumaraswamy who alleged there was a ‘conspiracy to weaken’ his government. (Read live updates of Karnataka crisis here)“It is not important if the coalition survives, but we must discuss this conspiracy to weaken democracy, the embattled chief minister said. This was followed by several twists and turns with rebel MLAs holed up in Mumbai and Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar ‘deliberating’ on their resignations. The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that neither the Speaker can be forced to take early decision nor the rebel MLAs be forced to attend the session. Another Congress MLA Shrimant Patil who was staying with other legislators at Windflower Prakruthi Resort in Bengaluru, reached Mumbai last night.

Source: Hindustan Times July 18, 2019 04:35 UTC