14 Congress-JDS rebel MLAs disqualified by Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh

Just a day ahead of the floor test, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has disqualified 14 Congress-JDS rebel MLAs with immediate effect till the end of the term of the Karnataka Assembly. The lawmakers have been disqualified under the anti-defection act. "I have used my judicial conscience," said Kumar, who had earlier disqualified three Congress rebel MLAs on Thursday and said he would make the pronouncement of his decision in the remaining cases in a "couple of days."

The development came a day ahead of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa moving the confidence motion in the assembly to prove his majority, after assuming office on Friday.

Of the lawmakers who faced the action, 11 are from the Congress and three from JDS.

The Congress and JDS, whose government collapsed on Tuesday last after a rebellion by a section of their MLAs, had petitioned the Speaker to disqualify their errant members.

Earlier on Friday, BJP state president BS Yediyurappa was sworn-in as chief minister for the fourth time. The oath-taking ceremony of Yediyurappa was administered by Karnataka Governor Vaju Bhai Vala at Raj Bhawan.

He will now have to prove majority in the Assembly on July 29. The swearing-in ceremony of Yediyurappa came a day after Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar disqualififed three rebel MLAs for deserting the Kuamraswamy government.

The Kumaraswamy government had fallen on Tuesday after it failed the floor test in the Assembly. In a sudden development on Friday morning, Yeddyurappa met the Governor to stake the claim and requested him to administer the oath of office and secrecy Friday itself, following which Vala invited him to form the government.