The government was saved from a major embarassment on Tuesday as the BJP failed to capitalise on its numbers to stall the passing of the supplementary estimates in the Legislative Assembly.
Sensing that the party had more legislators present in the House than the coalition partners in the government, the JD(S) and Congress, BJP chief whip, Sunil Kumar stopped a member from leaving. But before he could reach senior leader, K.S. Eshwarappa to inform him about his strategy, the latter announced the BJP was staging a walkout. Disappointed BJP members were then forced to leave the House instead of seeking a vote on the finance bill and defeating it. Earlier in the day, the supplementary estimates came under fire from the BJP members, who wanted to know why the government was seeking over Rs 6,500 crore in additional funds. In his reply, CM H.D. Kumaraswamy explained the government needed the funds for the farm loan waiver scheme, some ongoing work of the PWD and for new projects of legislators.
Also, as parts of the state were suffering from drought, the RDPR department had sought Rs 510 crore to provide drinking water and the revenue department, which had spent funds on tackling natural calamities, had sought Rs 270 crore, he added.
