The fate of the first independent Bharatiya Janata Party government in South India will be decided on Friday, with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa all set to take the floor test.

The BJP with 110 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly will rely on the support of the six independent candidates to prove their majority in the House.

Coverage: Karnataka Votes

The BJP needs the support of 113 members to sail through the floor test.

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur will address the joint session of the state legislative assembly and council at 1215 hours. This would be followed by a debate and later the floor test will be held. The entire process is expected to be completed by 1700 hours on Friday.

'25 pc of Muslims voted BJP in Karnataka'

For B S Yeddyurappa, it is an acid test. The previous experience when he sought a trust vote would be fresh in his mind. His government was pulled down by the Janata Dal-Secular when the debate in the assembly was on. However, he resigned before the trust vote could take place.

Meanwhile, the Vidhan Soudha (state assembly) is decked with flowers a number of priests could be sen as well. All BJP ministers conducted prayers separately in their respective chambers. A debate has already arisen among the other parties regarding prayers being offered by ministers.

The general argument is that the Vidhan Soudha is a secular place and no religion should be practiced there. It may be recalled that this debate had arose when BJP ministers occupied their offices after taking charge during the last term, when they had formed the government with the JD-S.