News / Author / Vikram Gopal

Vikram Gopal

Vikram Gopal is Hindustan Times’ state correspondent for Karnataka.

Articles by Vikram Gopal

Karnataka Speaker disqualifies 3 rebel MLAs, keeps others on tenterhooks

In a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumar announced that Congress MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathahalli and Ranebennur legislator R Shankar stood disqualified.

The speaker insisted that the disqualified lawmakers couldn’t contest election until the term of the current assembly – due to expire in 2023 – is over.(ANI)

india news

Updated on Jul 25, 2019 11:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Siddaramaiah fumes as Karnataka rebel MLA says “he was the one behind us”

The allegation by rebel MLA Shivaram Hebbar came after weeks of speculation that sections of the two former coalition partners were unhappy with Siddaramaiah’s role in quelling the rebellion that ultimately toppled the 14-month government.

At a press conference in Bengaluru, Hebbar -- one of 15 rebel lawmakers who resigned their position -- claimed that Siddaramaiah was the one who was behind us.(Arijit Sen/HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 26, 2019 11:03 AM IST

Bengaluru/New Delhi | ByVikram Gopal and Aurangzeb Naqshbandi

Karnataka Speaker disqualifies 3 rebel MLAs who pulled down Kumaraswamy govt

Speaker KR Ramesh said the three disqualified rebel MLAs ceased to be members of the 15th Legislative Assembly till its expiry in 2023.

india news

Updated on Jul 25, 2019 09:58 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVikram Gopal

In Karnataka, Yeddyurappa waits for go-ahead to stake claim

Ousted chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, for his part, said he had no regrets and was “happy” he could work for the poor until his last day. His father, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, however, blamed the BJP for “horse trading”.

A senior party leader said in New Delhi that the BJP would take a final call after assessing the situation. A second senior leader said in Bengaluru that the party may wait for speaker KR Ramesh Kumar’s final decision on the rebel lawmakers. (ANI Photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 11:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru/New Delhi | ByVikram Gopal and Kumar Uttam

Before trust vote loss, Kumaraswamy signed one last order to keep his promise

Kumaraswamy was asked by the Governor Vajubhai Vala to continue as a caretaker chief minister till a new government was sworn-in, he was also barred from taking any major policy decisions, like the loan waiver for the landless-labourers.

Kumaraswamy revealed Wednesday that he signed this last order on Tuesday, hours before witnessing his government fall in the state Assembly by 6 votes after 4-day long confidence motion proceedings.(Photo: AFP)

india news

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 09:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

14 months later, coalition government in Karnataka crumbles

All eyes are now on governor Vajubhai Vala, who accepted chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s resignation late on Tuesday and asked him to lead a caretaker government.

In the 225-member assembly, the BJP is the single largest party with 105 legislators.(Photo: PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 12:17 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVenkatesha Babu and Vikram Gopal

In Karnataka, BJP may stake claim to form govt today

In the 225-member assembly, the BJP is the single largest party with 105 legislators. Yeddyurappa said he will meet Vala to stake claim after consulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah.

Karnataka Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) leaders along with the party president B.S. Yediyurappa flash the victory sign after they were voted out of the ruling coalition government through a trust vote at the Vidhana Soudha, in Bangalore on July 23, 2019.(AFP photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 04, 2020 03:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVenkatesha Babu and Vikram Gopal

Curtains for HD Kumaraswamy govt as coalition loses floor

The Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance secured 99 votes in favour and 105 against on a trust vote motion moved in the 225-member assembly by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy last Thursday.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and his deputy G Parameshwara meet Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar after losing the vote of confidence in Assembly Session at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru, Tuesday, July 23, 2019.(PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 07:49 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Lemons, biryani and the middle class: Karnataka trust debate saw it all

As the trust vote debate reached the endgame on Tuesday, there were barbs, darts and the constant digs at opponents.

Congress MLAs shout slogans and demand to adjourned the assembly session for the day at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.(Photo: PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 23, 2019 08:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVikram Gopal

Karnataka floor test: Kumaraswamy loses trust vote, has some advice for rival BSY about CM chair

HD Kumaraswamy, who lost the Karnataka floor test by six votes, had a word of advice for the other lawmakers including those from the rival BJP and its boss BS Yeddyurappa.

Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa shows victory sign along with other members after the defeat of Congress-JD(S) coalition government at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 04, 2020 03:16 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘I thought it was lucky’: Kumaraswamy on why he stayed in a 5-star hotel

The Karnataka coalition government slipped into a crisis two weeks ago after 16 lawmakers — 13 from the Congress and three from the JD(S) — resigned.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy during the trust vote at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru.(PTI Photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 26, 2019 11:47 PM IST

HT Correspondent, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘Backstabbed by rebels…will happen to you too’: Cong’s Shivakumar warns BJP

Ahead of Tuesday’s trust vote in the Karnataka assembly, Congress’ chief trouble shooter, D K Shivakumar warned the opposition BJP that rebel MLAs who dumped the grand old party could ditch them too.

Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar addresses the Assembly during the discussion on the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.(ANI)

india news

Updated on Jul 23, 2019 05:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘Give us 4 weeks to appear’: 13 rebel MLAs write to speaker on disqualification plea

Karnataka political crisis: The fate of Karnataka’s beleaguered coalition government hung in the balance on Monday night as the debate on a trust vote in the assembly entered its third working day and the speaker summoned rebel lawmakers.

Karnataka political crisis: Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar during Assembly Session at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru, Friday, July 19, 2019.(PTI photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 23, 2019 10:12 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘6pm today,’ Speaker sets yet another deadline for Karnataka trust vote

Despite assurances by speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in the morning that the vote would be held during the day, the House was adjourned around 11.40pm without the floor test being conducted.

The government slipped into a crisis two weeks ago after 16 lawmakers — 13 from the Congress and three from the JD(S) — resigned.(PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 23, 2019 08:32 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Trust vote should be finished today, says Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar

Karnataka political crisis: The Speaker, earlier summoned 12 Congress rebel legislators on Tuesday following a petition by the ruling Congress-Janata Dal(Secular) combine seeking to disqualify them.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar speaks during an Assembly session at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru, Friday, July 19, 2019. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI7_19_2019_000094B)(PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 01:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Cong-JD(S) government lives to fight another day

Speaker KR Ramesh adjourned the House until Monday and said that the debate on the trust vote will continue when the house reconvenes.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, his deputy G Parameshwara and cabinet colleagues gesture during Assembly Session at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru on Friday.(PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 20, 2019 01:28 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Karnataka trust vote debate to continue on Monday, announces Speaker; BJP calls it ‘gross injustice’

Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar adjourned the House after the treasury benches and the opposition failed to reach a consensus on setting a time frame for concluding the trust vote.

Karnataka Assembly Floor Test: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy speaks during the assembly session at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Friday, July 19, 2019.(PTI photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 09:15 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Benguluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘Know you are in hurry’: Speaker taunts Yeddyurappa who wants floor test voting to start

Karnataka Assembly trust vote: HD Kumaraswamy pointed to the message that he had received from Governor Vajubhai Vala last evening and asked Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to take a call.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar arrives at Vidhana Soudha to conduct the trust vote in Bengaluru, Thursday, July 18, 2019. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI7_18_2019_000215B)(PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 04:00 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Must vote on trust motion today, says Governor in new deadline for HD Kumaraswamy

Karnataka Assembly floor test: The trust vote is necessitated by mass resignation of 16 legislators earlier this month that plunged the HD Kumaraswamy-led government into deep turmoil and it has been lurching from one crisis to another since then.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy during the assembly session at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Thursday, July 18, 2019.(PTI photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 02, 2020 09:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘Prima facie, you’ve lost majority’: Guv sets 1.30 pm deadline for Karnataka CM

Karnataka assembly floor test: The governor said he hadn’t intervened so far because Kumaraswamy had called the assembly session and moved the trust vote.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy with his deputy G Parameshwara during the assembly session at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru(PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 19, 2019 07:53 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Karnataka Assembly adjourns without floor test, BJP plans all-night protest

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar intimated the lawmakers that Governor Vajubhai Vala has asked him to ensure that the trust vote should be held today.

Chief Minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy in conversation with other members during the trust motion debate at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Thursday.(ANI photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 18, 2019 08:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘First clarification, trust vote later’: Siddaramaiah’s twist in assembly

Karnataka Assembly trust vote: Ex-chief minister Siddaramaiah insisted that Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar should first clarify on the Supreme Court order that seemed to bar him from issuing a whip to his legislators to attend the session and support the party.

Karnataka Assembly trust vote: Siddaramaiah told the assembly speaker to put off the trust vote till the speaker gave a clear-cut ruling on their right to issue a whip.(Arijit Sen/HT FILE Photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 18, 2019 06:03 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Congress MLA Roshan Baig detained by police while boarding plane

The resignations, and the withdrawal of support by two Independent MLAs, pushed the coalition government to the brink and as a result, chief minister Kumaraswamy volunteered to a floor test on Friday when the monsoon session of the assembly began.

As the news broke, HD Kumaraswamy took to Twitter to claim that Baig was about to travel on a chartered flight along with former chief minister and the BJP’s state president BS Yeddyurappa’s assistant Santosh.(HT File Photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 01, 2020 03:22 PM IST

Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

In Karnataka political crisis, Supreme Court begins hearing on plea by rebel MLAs

Karnataka political crisis: BJP says motion will be defeated and CM will have to resign; Cong leader says MLAs will return to fold.

Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy along with other members during the Assembly session at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Monday.(PTI File Photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 16, 2019 11:52 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Suspense ends, Kumaraswamy govt to face Karnataka trust vote on Thursday

The discussion on the vote of confidence will begin at 11 am on Thursday,” Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah announced.

Chief Minister Kumaraswamy had offered to face the confidence vote last week after nearly 16 coalition lawmakers sent their resignations to Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.(PTI)

india news

Updated on Jul 15, 2019 03:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Back in Mumbai, rebel Karnataka MLA says resignation stands

MLA MTB Nagaraj flew to Mumbai about 12 hours after he had said outside former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s house that he would return to the Congress fold and convince another rebel, K Sudhakar, to return to the grand old party as well.

Housing minister and Congress MLA MTB Nagaraj(Twitter/MTBNagaraj)

india news

Updated on Jul 15, 2019 07:25 AM IST

Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘I’ll come back only if…’: Karnataka Congress MLA on his resignation

It all began after DK Shivakumar, the Congress’ key troubleshooter in Karnataka, visited the house of Nagaraj, who is housing minister in the state government, early on Saturday morning.

Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy with rebel Congress MLA MTB Nagaraj at the residence of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Saturday.(ANI PHOTO.)

india news

Updated on Jul 14, 2019 09:00 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

Rebel Karnataka MLA talks of a ‘rethink’ after meeting Congress troubleshooter

Karnataka minister MTB Nagaraj who was among Congress lawmakers who had resigned last week seems to have made up hsi mind of staying put in the grand old party.

Karnataka, minister MTB Nagara at his residence in Bengaluru with Congress troubleshooter D K DShivakumar on Saturday.(Photo/DK Shivakumar ‘ Office)

india news

Updated on May 31, 2020 08:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru | ByVikram Gopal

‘Will not buckle under pressure’: Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar

“The law will take its course without any consideration as to who the person is, what the situation is,” said the speaker when asked if it he can reject resignations if MLAs do not turn up for the appointments he has given them.

Karnataka assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar is likely to play a key role in deciding how a political crisis caused by the resignation of 16 ruling coalition legislators will pan out(PTI Photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 13, 2019 08:00 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByVikram Gopal

‘Should I have worked at lightning speed?’ Karnataka Speaker on resignations

Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar met the 10 MLAs – seven from the Congress and three from the Janata Dal (Secular) – shortly after 6pm in his chamber in the Karnataka assembly and received their resignation letters.

Earlier in the day after hearing the petition of the rebel MLAs, the apex court asked Kumar to “take a decision forthwith and, in any case, in the course of the remaining part of the day”.(PTI photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 12, 2019 08:54 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bengaluru/New Delhi | ByVikram Gopal

Copy

Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin

Vikram Gopal

Vikram Gopal is Hindustan Times’ state correspondent for Karnataka.

In a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumar announced that Congress MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathahalli and Ranebennur legislator R Shankar stood disqualified.

The allegation by rebel MLA Shivaram Hebbar came after weeks of speculation that sections of the two former coalition partners were unhappy with Siddaramaiah’s role in quelling the rebellion that ultimately toppled the 14-month government.

Speaker KR Ramesh said the three disqualified rebel MLAs ceased to be members of the 15th Legislative Assembly till its expiry in 2023.

Ousted chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, for his part, said he had no regrets and was “happy” he could work for the poor until his last day. His father, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, however, blamed the BJP for “horse trading”.

Kumaraswamy was asked by the Governor Vajubhai Vala to continue as a caretaker chief minister till a new government was sworn-in, he was also barred from taking any major policy decisions, like the loan waiver for the landless-labourers.

All eyes are now on governor Vajubhai Vala, who accepted chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s resignation late on Tuesday and asked him to lead a caretaker government.

In the 225-member assembly, the BJP is the single largest party with 105 legislators. Yeddyurappa said he will meet Vala to stake claim after consulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah.

The Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance secured 99 votes in favour and 105 against on a trust vote motion moved in the 225-member assembly by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy last Thursday.

As the trust vote debate reached the endgame on Tuesday, there were barbs, darts and the constant digs at opponents.

HD Kumaraswamy, who lost the Karnataka floor test by six votes, had a word of advice for the other lawmakers including those from the rival BJP and its boss BS Yeddyurappa.

The Karnataka coalition government slipped into a crisis two weeks ago after 16 lawmakers — 13 from the Congress and three from the JD(S) — resigned.

Ahead of Tuesday’s trust vote in the Karnataka assembly, Congress’ chief trouble shooter, D K Shivakumar warned the opposition BJP that rebel MLAs who dumped the grand old party could ditch them too.

Karnataka political crisis: The fate of Karnataka’s beleaguered coalition government hung in the balance on Monday night as the debate on a trust vote in the assembly entered its third working day and the speaker summoned rebel lawmakers.

Despite assurances by speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in the morning that the vote would be held during the day, the House was adjourned around 11.40pm without the floor test being conducted.

Karnataka political crisis: The Speaker, earlier summoned 12 Congress rebel legislators on Tuesday following a petition by the ruling Congress-Janata Dal(Secular) combine seeking to disqualify them.

Speaker KR Ramesh adjourned the House until Monday and said that the debate on the trust vote will continue when the house reconvenes.

Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar adjourned the House after the treasury benches and the opposition failed to reach a consensus on setting a time frame for concluding the trust vote.

Karnataka Assembly trust vote: HD Kumaraswamy pointed to the message that he had received from Governor Vajubhai Vala last evening and asked Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to take a call.

Karnataka Assembly floor test: The trust vote is necessitated by mass resignation of 16 legislators earlier this month that plunged the HD Kumaraswamy-led government into deep turmoil and it has been lurching from one crisis to another since then.

Karnataka assembly floor test: The governor said he hadn’t intervened so far because Kumaraswamy had called the assembly session and moved the trust vote.

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar intimated the lawmakers that Governor Vajubhai Vala has asked him to ensure that the trust vote should be held today.

Karnataka Assembly trust vote: Ex-chief minister Siddaramaiah insisted that Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar should first clarify on the Supreme Court order that seemed to bar him from issuing a whip to his legislators to attend the session and support the party.

The resignations, and the withdrawal of support by two Independent MLAs, pushed the coalition government to the brink and as a result, chief minister Kumaraswamy volunteered to a floor test on Friday when the monsoon session of the assembly began.

Karnataka political crisis: BJP says motion will be defeated and CM will have to resign; Cong leader says MLAs will return to fold.

The discussion on the vote of confidence will begin at 11 am on Thursday,” Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah announced.

MLA MTB Nagaraj flew to Mumbai about 12 hours after he had said outside former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s house that he would return to the Congress fold and convince another rebel, K Sudhakar, to return to the grand old party as well.

It all began after DK Shivakumar, the Congress’ key troubleshooter in Karnataka, visited the house of Nagaraj, who is housing minister in the state government, early on Saturday morning.

Karnataka minister MTB Nagaraj who was among Congress lawmakers who had resigned last week seems to have made up hsi mind of staying put in the grand old party.

“The law will take its course without any consideration as to who the person is, what the situation is,” said the speaker when asked if it he can reject resignations if MLAs do not turn up for the appointments he has given them.

Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar met the 10 MLAs – seven from the Congress and three from the Janata Dal (Secular) – shortly after 6pm in his chamber in the Karnataka assembly and received their resignation letters.

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like