The politics of floor test in India

KARNATAKA, JULY 2019
SC ordered floor test when some Congress-JDS MLAs withdrew support from HD Kumaraswamy govt.

Governor on the basis of letters of withdrawal of support invited BS Yediyurappa to form govt; he was given 15 days to prove majority.


Court directed an immediate fl oor test and sought division of votes.

YEDIYURAPPA WON

UTTARAKHAND, MAY 4, 2016
Harish Rawat told to prove majority.

Court rejected plea for composite test; Rawat govt proved majority by physical division in House.

JHARKHAND, 2005
A composite test was ordered where JMM’s Shibu Soren was pitched against NDA’s Arjun Munda who claimed majority.

Court advanced trust vote by fi ve days from March 15 to 11.

Governor Syed Sibtey Razi sworn in Soren despite Munda claiming majority.

GOA, MARCH 14, 2017
Manohar Parrikar was sworn in as CM despite Congress claiming majority as largest party.

Parrikar claimed support of 21 MLAs.

Parrikar was told not to take any policy decision till he proved his majority.

Court shot down demand for composite floor test, saying it would only be held when no party had a clear majority.

UTTAR PRADESH, 1998
Governor Romesh Bhandari called Jagdambika Pal to form government after the Loktantrik Party pulled out of the Kalyan Singh government; Kalyan Singh won the vote.

The process was videographed under court orders prompting outrage.

Courts have since given up this insistence on recording house proceedings.