The stage is set for another trial of strength in the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday with BJP government accepting Governor H R Bhardwaj's offer for the second floor test on October 14.

"Yes. The Chief Minister (B S Yeddyurappa) has agreed for the floor test on October 14", Raj Bhavan sources told PTI.

Earlier today, the Governor told Yeddyurappa in a letter that "in case you are willing to do so, (that you have the majority in the House) I give you a fresh opportunity to do so by 11.00 AM on 14.10-2010".

Noting that the vote of confidence was carried by voice-vote yesterday, the Governor said "in fact the proceedings were reduced to a farce in the presence of uniformed police and the ruckus in the House. You (the Chief Minister) made no serious effort to prove your majority on the floor of the House".

In the circumstances, it is incumbent upon the Chief Minister to demonstrate clearly and objectively on the Constitutionally ordained forum, the Assembly, that he has the majority in the House, Bhardwaj said offering a fresh opportunity in case the government is willing to do so.

Yeddyurappa says he will seek a fresh vote of confidence on Oct 14.

Related report:

Karnataka CM gets one more chance to prove majority

In a new turn to political developments in Karnataka, Governor H R Bhardwaj today offered one more chance to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in the Assembly on Thursday.

Holding that the trust vote taken in the Assembly yesterday by the BJP government was "not in accordance with the law", the Governor sent a letter to the Chief Minister today saying that he has not proved the majority.

The Governor, who had yesterday recommended to the Centre imposition of President's Rule on the ground that the trust vote in the House was "unconstitutional", is believed to have said in the letter that he was ready to give him one more chance to prove his majority in the Assembly on October 14.

The Governor's missive came even as the Karnataka High Court resumed hearing on the petition filed by 16 disqualified dissident MLAs challenging Speaker K G Bopaiah's action yesterday.

Amidst pandemonium yesterday, Bopaiah had declared that the confidence motion moved by the Chief Minister was carried by a voice vote.

Opposition parties, however, criticised the Speaker's action saying there was no division of votes and claimed that there were more MLAs opposed to the government than those supporting it.

The Speaker, however, contended that no member pressed for a division.