Bengaluru: Karnataka’s fragile coalition government stepped down on Tuesday after just over a year in power, losing its gamble of calling a trust vote in the face of a flood of defections by its legislators. Kumaraswamy-led Congress-Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S), coalition failed the floor test 105-99. Other than the 15 members who resigned, an additional five—two independents, two Congress legislators and the lone Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA—failed to turn up for the vote. The BJP state leadership is expected to meet its top brass in Delhi and decide the next move. “Operation failed but patient is alive," said a Congress MLA, expressing relief that the coalition with JD(S) had finally come to an end.

Source: Mint July 23, 2019 18:33 UTC