3 disqualified Karnataka rebel MLAs to move Supreme Court against Speaker's decision

Rebel Congress MLAs Ramesh L Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli and Independent legislator R Shankarhave, who on Thursday were disqualified by Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, under the anti-defection law, is likely to move Supreme Court against their disqualification, according to reports.

"Disqualified MLAs (Rebel Congress MLAs) Ramesh L Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli & Independent MLA R Shankarhave to move Supreme Court against their disqualification," the news agency ANI reported.

Disqualified MLAs (Rebel Congress MLAs) Ramesh L Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli & Independent MLA R Shankarhave to move Supreme Court against their disqualification. #Karnataka

— ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2019

Shankar is one of the two Independent MLAs who withdrew support to the Kumaraswamy government and switched sides ahead of trust vote held in Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday. Jarkiholi and Kumathalli too submitted their resignations in early July, pushing the 14-month old wobbly Congress-JDS government to the brink of collapse.

READ | BS Yediyurappa sworn-in as new Karnataka chief minister, trust vote on Monday

The decision on 14 other MLAs who deserted the Congress-JDS coalition government in Karnataka would be taken following a further study, the Speaker stated.

The disqualification comes two days after the HD Kumaraswamy government crumbled under the weight of a rebellion by a big chunk of its MLAs, who were absent for the voting that led to the defeat of its trust vote by 99-105.

Meanwhile, BJP Karnataka president BS Yediyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister of the state on Friday, in a sudden twist to the protracted high voltage political drama in the state with a big challenge to manage numbers staring him in the face.

READ | Yediyurappa asks officials to put on hold Kumaraswamy government's orders issued in July

Shortly after taking the oath, Yediyurappa said he would move a motion of confidence in the assembly on July 29 to prove his majority, apparently confident of winning it with the expectation that 16 rebel Congress and JDS MLAs may abstain as they did on Tuesday last, giving him the edge.