BENGALURU: The stalemate over voting on the confidence motion could leave the government without money to even to pay salaries at the end of the month (July). The reason: The finance bill is yet to be passed in the assembly.

Chief minister

, who holds the finance portfolio, presented his budget for 2019-20 on February 8 and took a vote-on-account (permission of the House to draw money from the consolidated fund to spend for a specific period) for the first four months of the financial year. This means the government is allowed to draw money only till July 31. The finance bill therefore must be passed in the assembly by then.

Constitution experts say if the crisis continues, the governor could intervene and recommend dismissal of the government and the finance bill could subsequently be passed in Parliament under President's rule. Kumaraswamy indicated on Monday that his government will wait for the Supreme Court to rule on several petitions - perhaps on Tuesday - before putting the confidence motion to vote.

"We have no idea of what is going on. It is a very odd situation," said a senior official in the finance department.

Madabushi Sridhar Acharyulu, professor of constitutional law, Bennet University, said, "It is the constitutional obligation of the CM to seek approval of the assembly for the finance bill. If he fails to introduce the bill in the House before the deadline, it creates a financial crisis and will also amount to a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state. This calls for the governor's intervention."

Subhash C Kashyap, former secretary-general of the Lok Sabha and an expert on the Constitution, said the ruling coalition could convince the opposition party to support the finance bill, delinking the issue from the trust vote, in the interests of the state. "However, if the finance bill is introduced and it is defeated, it means the government has lost confidence of the House and it will automatically fall," said Kashyap.

In either case - failure to introduce the bill or defeat of the bill - the governor will recommend to the Centre to dismiss the government and keep the assembly in suspended animation. "I think the chief minister knows this and is perhaps daring the Centre to dismiss his government," said Kashyap.

The issue was a point of animated discussion in the corridors of power as members of the ruling coalition and the opposition sought to know more. While BJP members sat around senior member Madhu Swamy, who is well-versed with rules of legislature, JD(S)-Congress members sought out chief minister Siddaramaiah, who holds the distinction of having presented 13 budgets.

"The ruling coalition is clinging to power and is not even mindful of the financial crisis in the offing because of its greed for power," said BJP legislator CT Ravi.

The HDK camp appeared unfazed. "No need to worry about the finance bill. The system will take care of it within the frame work of law," said S Subramanya, economic advisor to the chief minister.

President’s rule imminent?

What if the coalition loses the trust vote and the governor invites the BJP to form the government? The new government must first prove its majority in the House before taking up any other matter. It may seek a vote on account for another couple of months, but given the paucity of time, political observers feel the state is set for another bout of President’s rule — at least till the finance bill predicament is sorted out.