All eyes on Speaker as 'disqualification' sword hangs on Karnataka's rebel MLAs

Karnataka’s political drama that started on July 6 after the shocking resignations of the rebel lawmakers, which ultimately forced the JDS-Congress government out of power is not going to end anytime soon. While BJP may celebrate the ouster of the HD Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister, BS Yeddyurappa knows that there is no easy way in near future. More so, for the rebel lawmakers, who have stayed away from all the proceedings in Bengaluru so far. Sources in the BJP say that the rebels staying at a hotel in Mumbai will return to Bengaluru soon.

So, can the rebel lawmakers join Vidhana Soudha session and resume their work? Not exactly. The biggest challenge they face is the disqualification proceedings. Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar had already issued summons to them and demanded their presence, which they turned down in signed letters yesterday. Today morning, Speaker said that, “people will get to know the power on Speaker in next two days.”

In their signed letters, the rebel lawmakers asked for four weeks of time. “As you are aware, I have tendered my resignation as the Member of the Legislative Assembly. In this regard, I had also approached the Supreme Court of India, wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court has directed your goodself to consider my resignation. In spite of all this, I am informed that a petition has been filed under X schedule of the Constitution of India, by the party, seeking my disqualification. I am not in receipt of the copy of the petition or the documents annexed to the person,” the letter accessed by the News Nation read.

Yeddyurappa is understood to have offered ministerial berths to some of the rebel lawmakers. But in case the Assembly Speaker initiates the disqualification proceedings, the rebels will have to get re-elected to the Vidhana Soudha in order to be eligible for any portfolio in Yeddyurappa government. According to Article 165 of Schedule 10 of the Constitution, legislators disqualified for defection are not barred from contesting the immediate next election. But they cannot be ministers unless they are re-elected.

Meanwhile, the BJP meeting is scheduled today. However, timing is not confirmed. Yeddyurappa will be elected as BJP leader and then he will go to Raj Bhawan.

Soon after failing to prove majority of the Congress-JDS coalition government led by him in Karnataka Assembly, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy submitted his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhawan in Bengaluru on Tuesday night. The confidence motion moved by Kumaraswamy received 99 votes in favour and 105 against it. Vala accepted his resignation, adding that the JDS chief will continue to be the caretaker chief minister of Karnataka until the next government is formed in the politically-unstable state.