120 or 104, what are the BJP’s chances in the Karnataka floor test

H D Kumaraswamy said that three of his JD(S) MLAs have been hijacked. The Congress says that its entire flock of 78 are intact. The two Independents who have been back and forth are not clear in their decision. The BJP says that it could swing 16 MLAs from the other camp in its favour.

The mood in the BJP camp was upbeat on Friday. The BJP's Shobha Karandlaje says that the party would easily go through the trust vote and will have the support of 16 MLAs from the Congress-JD(S). Camp. The party says that it would clear the floor test with the support of 120 MLAs. The BJP has 104 MLAs in the House.

Whatever the claims may be all parties are tense. The BJP is hoping that the 20 Lingayat MLAs in the Congress and JD(S) would back it. The Congress and JD(S) have been carting their MLAs all around and shown that they are united. The problem for the two parties is that some of them could cross vote.

Today's schedule:

• Supreme Court to hear plea challenging appointment of pro-tem speaker at 10.30 am.
• Speaker to convene House at 10.30 am.
• MLAs to take oath. This could be done individually or en-masse. This depends on the Speaker.
• Pro-tem Speaker will conduct the House as per the SC's Friday directive
• At 4 PM the House convenes for the floor test.
• If Speaker allows Yeddyurappa to make a statement, then H D Kumaraswamy the leader of the opposition too would be allowed to speak.
• The floor test would then be held.