Amidst deepening crisis in the Karnataka coalition government, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday sought time from Speaker to prove majority in the Assembly.

“After all these developments, I am seeking your permission and time to prove the majority in this session,” he said in Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

“I am ready for everything and am not here to cling to power… Have decided to seek trust vote, please fix time for it,” he said.

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar Friday said a slot would be allotted whenever the Karnataka Chief Minister opted for it.

“The chief minister has spoken his mind that he would not cling to power amid the confusion. He said he will seek the trust of the House,” the Speaker told reporters.

“Whenever he tells me that he wants to move the trust motion, the very next day I will put it in the business of the day,” he added.

The 11-day monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature began today with the coalition government on the verge of collapse as already 18 lawmakers have submitted their resignations.

Till Wednesday, 13 Congress, 3 JD(S) and two independent MLAs have submitted their resignations to the Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.

Earlier, in a late night tweet on Thursday, Kumaraswamy said that he is “confident” despite “efforts to destabilise” his government.

“Congress-JDS coalition in the state is going strong despite the efforts to destabilize. We are confident and prepared for smooth and fruitful conduct of legislative sessions,” Kumaraswamy tweeted late on Thursday night, hours after he ruled out his resignation.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court ordered status quo on the resignations by rebel Karnataka lawmakers till the matter will be heard by the court on Tuesday and also barred the Speaker from taking any decision on either resignation of the lawmakers or their disqualification till then.

The rebel lawmakers told the court that the Speaker had questioned their move to approach the Supreme Court and claimed that he said ‘go to hell’ to them in front of media.

The political drama took a new turn on Thursday as Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar showed no interest in taking an urgent decision on the resignation of the 16 MLAs of the ruling coalition government.

Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to move its lawmakers to Clarks Exotica Convention Resorts in Bengaluru after the Assembly proceedings today.