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{{short description|Political crisis in Indian state of Karnataka}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
The '''2019 Karnataka political crisis''' was a period of [[political instability]] when [[members of the legislative assembly]] in the Indian State of [[Karnataka]] submitted their resignations, which led to the fall of the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]]-[[Janata Dal (Secular)|JD(S)]] coalition [[Second H. D. Kumaraswamy ministry|government]] in the state.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20190715-karnataka-rebel-rousing-in-the-congress-1562059-2019-07-05|title=Rebel-rousing in the Congress|last=Gowda|first=Aravind|date=5 July 2019|work=India Today|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="july-1-resignation">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/karnataka-crisis-congress-steps-up-efforts-to-persuade-mla-to-withdraw-resignation-from-assembly/articleshow/70216118.cms|title=Karnataka crisis: Congress steps up efforts to persuade MLA to withdraw resignation from assembly|date=14 July 2019|work=Times of India|access-date=15 July 2019|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

{{Infobox event|date=July 2019|place=[[Karnataka]], India|type=Parliamentary crisis|cause=Resignation of 17 legislators|outcome=* Fall of [[H. D. Kumaraswamy]] government <br/>
* [[B. S. Yediyurappa]] sworn in as new [[Chief Minister of Karnataka|Chief Minister]]|participants=* [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
* [[Indian National Congress]]
* [[Janata Dal (Secular)]]}}

==Background==
In the [[2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|2018 elections]] to the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]], the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) won the most seats, 104,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/who-should-get-first-call-to-form-govt-in-karnataka-jurys-out/articleshow/64182765.cms|title=Who should get first call to form govt in Karnataka? Jury's out|date=16 May 2018|work=Times of India|agency=TNN (Times News Network)}}</ref> but the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) and [[Janata Dal (Secular)]] (JD(S)) formed a coalition government with 120 out of 224 seats.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/karnataka-2018/from-results-to-resort-politics-how-karnataka-formed-its-government/article23960753.ece|title=From results to resort politics: how Karnataka formed its government|date=May 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> In the [[2019 Indian general election in Karnataka|2019 general election]], the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|BJP-led NDA]] won 25 out of 28 seats in [[Karnataka]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/karnataka-election-results-live-updates-highlights/article27210206.ece|title=As it happened {{!}} Karnataka Lok Sabha results 2019: highlights|date=23 May 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-07-15|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> while the [[United Progressive Alliance|INC-led UPA]] won two and the Independent Candidate won one.

==Resignations==
On 1 July, two members, [[Ramesh Jarkiholi]] and [[Anand Singh (Karnataka politician)|Anand Singh]] of the INC submitted their resignations.<ref name="july-1-resignation" /> Over the next few days, ten INC and three JD(S) legislators resigned.<ref name="outlook">{{Cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-serious-threat-from-congress-leaders-no-intention-of-meeting-them-rebel-karnataka-mlas-tell-police/334209|title="Serious threat" From Congress Leaders, No Intention Of Meeting Them: Rebel Karnataka MLAs Tell Police|date=15 July 2019|work=Outlook India|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref>

The reaction of the coalition government was to attempt to convince the legislators who had submitted their resignations to rescind them.<ref name="outlook" /> Many of the legislators fled to [[Mumbai]], and directed the police not to permit INC leaders to meet them.<ref name="outlook" /> The government also attempted to induce the legislators to return by offering them cabinet posts; all 21 INC ministers resigned on 8 July to ensure that a sufficient number of ministerial berths were available.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/all-21-karnataka-congress-ministers-resign-to-make-way-for-new-cabinet/article28318628.ece|title=All 21 Karnataka Congress Ministers resign to make way for new Cabinet|date=2019-07-08|work=The Hindu|access-date=15 July 2019|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> It also requested that the [[Speaker (politics)|speaker]] should disqualify those who had resigned under anti-defection legislation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/karnataka-crisis-congress-seeks-disqualification-of-rebel-mlas-one-more-quits/articleshow/70144523.cms|title=Karnataka crisis: Congress seeks disqualification of rebel MLAs; one more quits|date=9 July 2019|work=Times of India|access-date=16 July 2019|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

The speaker, [[K. R. Ramesh Kumar]], did not immediately accept the resignations, on grounds that he was constitutionally obliged to scrutinize them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-political-crisis-live-updates-july-11-2019/article28367385.ece|title=Karnataka political crisis updates: Need to ensure resignations are genuine and voluntary, says the Speaker|date=11 July 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> Consequently, some of those who had submitted their resignations approached the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]], which on 12 July agreed to hear the case on 16 July, whilst ordering the speaker not to disqualify any lawmakers or take any other action in this connection.<ref name="business-standard">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/sc-directs-status-quo-in-karnataka-mla-resigning-case-next-hearing-july-16-119071200788_1.html|title=SC directs status quo in Karnataka MLA resigning case, next hearing July 16|last=Aryan|first=Aashish|date=2019-07-12|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref>

At the 16 July hearing, [[Mukul Rohatgi]], counsel for the legislators who had submitted their resignations, said that the speaker should be ordered to rule immediately on the resignations.<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/speaker-should-decide-now-on-resignations-karnataka-mlas-tell-supreme-court/cid/1694585|title=Speaker should 'decide now' on resignations, Karnataka MLAs tell Supreme Court|date=16 July 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=16 July 2019|agency=Press Trust of India|location=Calcutta}}</ref> Rohatgi argued that disqualification was a "mini-trial", and so a decision on the resignations should take priority over one on disqualification.<ref name="telegraph" /> [[Rajeev Dhavan]], who appeared for the [[Chief Minister of Karnataka]], argued that the legislators never met the speaker, and consequently the speaker should rule on their disqualifications first.<ref name="et">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/karnataka-crisis-live-news-updates-kumaraswamy-yeddyurappa-supreme-court/liveblog/70239740.cms|title=Karnataka crisis live: speaker says working as per Constitution, Supreme Court order tomorrow|date=16 July 2019|work=The Economic Times|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> [[Ranjan Gogoi]], the [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]], said that the court would have to balance two competing claims: first, the excuse of resignation could not be used to circumvent anti-defection measures; but, second, claims of defection should not be used to prevent resignation.<ref name="et" /> He also said that the court would have to consider the extent to which it is permitted to issue directions to holders of other constitutional posts, such as that of the speaker of the assembly.<ref name="telegraph" />

===Members responsible for the Crisis===
14 INC and 3 JD(S) legislators were responsible for the political crisis. One [[Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party]] legislator also left the coalition government. A few days later, INC legislator [[Ramalinga Reddy]] withdrew his resignation.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-07-19|title=Ramalinga Reddy withdraws resignation|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/ramalinga-reddy-withdraws-resignation/article28566448.ece|access-date=2021-07-30|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

===List of members who took back resignation===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! SI No.
! Constituency
! Member
! colspan=2| Party
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|1.
|[[B.T.M Layout (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|BTM Layout]]
|[[Ramalinga Reddy]]
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|}

===List of disqualified legislators===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! S.No
! Constituency
! Member
! colspan=2| Party
! colspan=2| [[2019 Karnataka Legislative Assembly by-elections|2019 by-election results]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Karnataka bypoll results Highlights: BJP wins 12 out of 15 seats; state Congress leaders quit posts|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/karnataka-bypoll-results-live-news-bjp-congress-jds-yediyurappa/liveblog/72431972.cms|access-date=2021-07-30|website=The Economic Times|language=en}}</ref>
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|1.
|[[Ranebennur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Ranebennur]]
|[[R. Shankar (politician)|R. Shankar]]
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party}}" |
|[[Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party]]
|''Did not contest''. Won by [[BJP]] candidate [[Arunkumar Guththur]]
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}" |
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|2.
|[[Shivajinagar, Karnataka Assembly constituency|Shivajinagar]]
|[[R. Roshan Baig]]
| rowspan="13" width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| rowspan="13" |[[Indian National Congress]]
|''Did not contest''. Won by [[Indian National Congress|INC]] candidate [[Rizwan Arshad]]
| rowspan="2" width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|3.
|[[Maski (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Maski]] (ST)
|[[Pratap Gowda Patil]]
|Lost to [[Indian National Congress|INC]] candidate [[Basanagouda Turvihal]]
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|4.
|[[Hosakote (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hoskote]]
| [[M. T. B. Nagaraju]]
|Lost to [[Independent politician|Independent]] candidate [[Sharath Kumar Bachegowda]]
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}" |
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|5.
|[[Kagwad (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kagawad]]
|[[Shrimant Balasaheb Patil]]
| rowspan="12" |Won back seat as [[BJP]] candidate
| rowspan="12" width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}" |
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|6.
|[[Krishnarajapuram (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Krishnarajapuram]]
|[[Byrati Basavaraj]]
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|7.
|[[Rajarajeshwarinagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Rajarajeshwari Nagar]]
|[[Munirathna]]
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|8.
|[[Yeshvanthapura (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Yeshvanthapura]]
|[[S. T. Somashekhar]]
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|9.
|[[Gokak (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Gokak]]
|[[Ramesh Jarkiholi]]
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|10.
|[[Vijayanagara Assembly constituency|Vijayanagara]]
|[[Anand Singh (Karnataka politician)|Anand Singh]]
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|11.
|[[Hirekerur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hirekerur]]
|[[B. C. Patil]]
|-style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|12.
|[[Athani (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Athani]]
|[[Mahesh Kumathalli]]
|- style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|13.
|[[Chikkaballapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chikkaballapur]]
| Dr. [[K. Sudhakar (politician)|K. Sudhakar]]
|- style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|14.
|[[Yellapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Yellapur]]
|[[Arbail Shivaram Hebbar]]
|- style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|15.
|[[Mahalakshmi Layout (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Mahalakshmi Layout]]
|[[K. Gopalaiah]]
| rowspan="3" width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Janata Dal (Secular)}}" |
| rowspan="3" |[[Janata Dal (Secular)]]
|- style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|16.
|[[Krishnarajpete (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Krishnarajpet]]
|[[Narayana Gowda]]
|- style="text-align:center; height:30px;"
|17.
|[[Hunasuru (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hunsur]]
|[[Adagur H. Vishwanath]]
|Lost to [[Indian National Congress|INC]] candidate [[H. P. Manjunath]]
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
|- style="text-align:center; height:30px;"

|-
|}

==Reaction and conclusion==
The INC members in the [[Rajya Sabha]] forced adjournments twice in protest,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Das|first=Shaswati|url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/karnataka-crisis-disrupts-rajya-sabha-proceedings-1562655152513.html|title=Rajya Sabha adjourned twice over Karnataka crisis|date=9 July 2019|work=Livemint|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> alleging bribery on the part of the BJP.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bjp-buying-mlas-in-karnataka-surjewala/articleshow/70107159.cms|title=BJP 'buying' MLAs in Karnataka|date=6 July 2019|work=Times of India|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> The BJP demanded that the government should resign.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/karnataka-political-crisis-bjp-demands-kumaraswamy-s-resignation-1564352-2019-07-08|title=Karnataka crisis: 21 Congress ministers resign; BJP wants Kumaraswamy to step down|date=8 July 2019|work=India Today|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref>

Eventually the Congress-JD(S) coalition was reduced to 101 seats, whilst the BJP retained 105. After three weeks of turmoil, Kumarasamy lost a trust vote and resigned. On 26 July 2019, [[B. S. Yediyurappa]] was sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka once again.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%;"
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|'''Vote of confidence'''
|-
! colspan="2" style="width:200px;" | Head Count →
! 23 July 2019
|-
! style="width:1px; background:green;" |
| style="text-align:left;" | Yes
|{{Composition bar|99|206|green|width=125px}}
|-
! style="background:red;" |
| style="text-align:left;" | No
|{{Composition bar|105|206|red|width=125px|}}
|-
! style="background:gray;" |
| style="text-align:left;" | Could not attend
|{{Composition bar|2|206|gray|width=125px}}
|-
| colspan="03" style="text-align:centre;" | '''Government resigned thereafter'''
|}

==See also==
* [[2010s in political history]]
* [[2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election]]
* [[2019 Karnataka Legislative Assembly by-elections]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Politics of Karnataka]]
[[Category:2019 in Indian politics]]
[[Category:Political crises in India|K]]
[[Category:History of the Bharatiya Janata Party]]
[[Category:Political corruption in India]]
[[Category:Government crises]]
[[Category:Constitutional crises]]
[[Category:2019 scandals]]
[[Category:Modi administration]]
[[Category:History of the Indian National Congress]]

2019 Karnataka political crisis - Revision history

Michaelevansnet at 09:55, 30 October 2025