Karnataka Speaker says '8 of 13 MLAs' resignation letters not according to law', ask them to meet him in person as Congress-JD(S) blames BJP for destabilising government

Amidst the relocation of the current MLAs to resorts to curb defection, the Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, on Tuesday has said that of the 13 resignations he has received, 8 are not filed according to the law. He added that he has given time to the rebel MLAs to present themselves before him, as he has written to the Governor that none of the rebel MLAs have met him in person.

Karnataka Crisis: Siddaramaiah Threatens Dissident MLAs With Anti-defection Law, Rebels Express Discontent With Congress-JD(S) Coalition

Siddaramaiah threatens 'anti-defection' law and rebel MLAs speak out

Earlier in the day, CLP chief Siddaramaiah has targeted BJP, alleging that the saffron party is trying to destabilise the Congress-JD(S) government, after holding a CLP meeting with all Congress MLAs in the state.  Speaking to media on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah also cited the anti-defection law in the Constitution, saying that the MLAs who have resigned will be disqualified from holding any position. 

"People of Karnataka have not given a mandate to BJP to form the government. BJP, despite the fact that they have failed to win the majority on the floor of the house, they are trying to destabilise this government, continuously, constantly. Some of our MLAs, they fell to the trap of BJP. I don't know if they are aware of the anti-defection law, which clearly says Article 164, whoever resigns from any political party, who is elected on the symbol of the particular party, he cannot resign, you will be disqualified. Once he is disqualified, he cannot hold any office," he said.

He also added that his party has requested the Speaker to take legal action under the anti-defection law and bar the rebel MLAs from contesting election for 6 years. Responding to Siddaramaiah's statement, Congress leader ST Somashekhar who has resigned, said that people of Karnataka are not happy with the 'Maitri' (coalition) government. Adding to the Congress MLA, JDS leader Narayan Gowda said that the MLAs have resigned due to lack of development in the state.

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Current Scenario of Karnataka state government

On Saturday, 13 Congress-JD(S) MLAs had resigned including 1 Independent. The JD(S)-Congress coalition’s total strength came down to 117 after (Congress-78, JD(S)-37, BSP-1 and Independents-1) after Nagesh withdrew his support from the government, besides the Speaker.

If the resignations of the 13 Congress-JD(S) MLAs are accepted by the Speaker, the Congress-JD(S) coalition’s numbers will come down to 104, besides the vote of the Speaker. If the Speaker accepts the 13 resignations, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly will come down to 212 out of 225, which will leave the half-way mark to 106. As the saffron party has 107 MLAs in its support now, it can call a trust vote and form a government in the state