Karnataka Crisis: Available in my office, meet me if you want to resign, Speaker Kumar to MLAs

The political crisis in Karnataka has reached a definitive stage as Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar resumes office today and take call on the resignations of the rebel lawmakers from the Congress-JDS alliance. Latest TV reports say that Assembly secretary MK Vishalakshi has brought the MLAs’ resignation letters to the Speaker’s office. Reports suggest that the BJP is closely watching Kumar’s impending decision. Shortly after the resignations on Saturday by the 14 lawmakers, the Speaker had said that he will initiate the process on Tuesday by calling all MLAs, speaking to them. A report by ‘The Hindu’ said that the rebels are likely to meet the Speaker and not attend the crucial Congress Legislature Party meet.

Here are 10 updates of Karnataka Crisis:

1: Congress's CLP meeting underway at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Contrary to reports, the rebel Congress lawmakers staying in Mumbai are not planning to go to Goa. According to news agency ANI, the Congress leaders had planned to shift to Pune and ultimately go to Goa. However, no leader has gone ahead with the plan and all lawmakers are staying at an undisclosed location in Mumbai itself.

2: The Tuesday development is in sharp contrast to what happened on Monday evening. The MLAs, including 10 of Congress, two of JDS and one independent and one of Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP), reportedly left for Goa on Monday evening and were being ‘accompanied’ by Mohit Bhartiya, president of the Mumbai BJP Yuva Morcha. 

3: The coalition has 118 MLAs in the 224-member Assembly. 13 MLAs as of now have submitted their resignations. Of the 13, there are ten Congress legislators and three from the JD(S). If the resignations are accepted, Congress-JDS numbers would reduce to 105. Out of which the grand old party will have 71 legislators including the speaker while the JDS will be left with 35 legislators including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.

4: In latest developments, Independent MLA Nagesh announced his resignation from Kumaraswamy government and extended support to BJP. This helps the BJP to reach 106 figure one seat ahead of the coalition government owing if the resignations are accepted.

5: Apart from political strategies, the Congress is also planning to take a legal recourse. There are reports that today, the Congress is likely to petition the Speaker seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution for defection.

6: Section 164 (1) (B) of the Constitution stipulates that a member disqualified under Tenth Schedule cannot be appointed Minister till the date on which the term of his office as such member would expire or till the person is elected to either of the Houses, whichever is earlier.

7: This means that in case this rule is invoked, the rebels will not get the ministerial berth reportedly promised by the BJP.

8: Meanwhile, the BJP is playing and wait and watch game. An Economic Times report said that the party was expecting more resignations.

9: In case the Congress-JDS government falls, BJP sourcse say that BS Yeddyurappa is likely to return as Chief Minister of Karnataka. 

10: In the recent Lok Sabha polls, BJP won 25 out of 28 seats. JDS head HD Deve Gowda (Tumkur) as well as senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge (Gulbarga) and M Veerappa Moily (Chikkballapur) lost the elections.