Responding to the debate, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said he was "not particularly worried about the end of this debate". He also got emotional, saying he would "happily give up... rather than all this". "I have acted with decency. The last 14 months has been - 'will they stay or will they go' - and I thank my party leaders for staying through it all. The objections to us started on Day 1 of the coalition government," he added.

Ahead of the debate, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar made lacerating comments after seeing near empty treasury benches in the assembly despite a 6 pm deadline for the trust vote. "Should this be the fate of the Speaker or the assembly?" Mr Kumar demanded. "You will lose credibility, leave alone strength," he said.

Thirteen of the rebel lawmakers have written to the Speaker asking for more time to meet him over a disqualification notice against them. "You are aware that the Disqualification Rule, 1986, requires a minimum of 7 days period. In spite of the same, the proceedings are being hurried up. In these circumstances, I request you to grant four weeks' time to appear," the letter read, according to news agency ANI.

On Monday, the house witnessed huge disruption after the Speaker demanded that the lawmakers cut short their speech. Amid the chaos, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy distributed copies of what he claimed was a fake letter of resignation that was being circulated by his political rivals.With around 20 legislators yet to speak, the house was finally adjourned for the day close to midnight.

On Friday, a trust vote could not be held despite a deadline from Governor Vajubhai Vala. The house was adjourned after marathon speeches by Mr Kumaraswamy and other coalition leaders. The BJP accused the government of delaying the trust vote with lengthy speeches in hopes of reprieve from the Supreme Court. The coalition has accused the BJP of trying to draw away lawmakers to seize power.

Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar told NDTV that he was trying to convince the rebels to comply with the party whip. "Whatever BJP wants and whatever these members want, the rebels will suffer in the end... They will be disqualified. 100% the constitution provides for this," he told NDTV.

HD Kumaraswamy and the Congress have moved the top court, accusing the governor of interfering with the assembly proceedings when the debate on the trust vote was underway and sought clarification on its July 17 order, which they said, stopped them from issuing a whip to the rebel legislators.

Today, appearing for two independent legislators who withdrew support to the government and urged the Supreme Court to order a floor test, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the Speaker has been pushing the date for the floor test. "Yesterday, he said 'I will do it by midnight'. But he's not done it," Mr Rohatgi said. The Court said if the floor test is not held today, it would hear the plea tomorrow.

Sixteen legislators - 13 from the Congress and three from JDS - resigned in the last two weeks, and two independent legislators withdrew support to the coalition government. The ruling coalition received marginal relief when Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati directed her party's lone legislator in Karnataka, N Mahesh, to support it.