SC to take call on resignation of 16 rebel MLAs today
Battling for survival after the resignation of 16 MLAs, the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition Government in Karnataka will face the floor test in the Assembly on Thursday. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had announced he would seek a trust vote to end the “confusion” caused by the resignations of rebel MLAs, while asserting he was "ready for everything".
The fate of all the 16 rebel legislators who have approached the Supreme Court is expected to be decided on Tuesday. Leaders of the ruling coalition led by Congress expressed confidence to win the trust vote, while Opposition BJP maintained the Government has been reduced to "a minority" after 16 MLAs resigned from the Assembly.
As the political turmoil lingered on with the ruling coalition making frantic efforts to win back rebels who have pushed the Government to the brink of collapse, Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Monday announced that the confidence motion sought to be moved by Kumaraswamy would be taken up at 11 am on July 18.
With the support of the two independents, the BJP has 107 MLAs in the 224-member House, where the half-way mark is 113. If the resignations of the 16 MLAs are accepted, the coalition's tally will be reduced to 100.
The date has been fixed after consulting both the Opposition and ruling coalition leaders at the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. The disgruntled MLAs are in Mumbai and have not turned up for the Assembly proceedings, which began on Friday last.
Rebel MLAs have also written to the Mumbai Police chief saying they don't want to meet senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Ghulam Nabi Azad or any other Congress leaders. Their move came amid speculation that Kharge, some other senior Congress leaders and Kumaraswamy may visit Hotel Renaissance in Powai where the rebel MLAs are sequestered, to win them back.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a plea of five more rebel Congress MLAs, along with the pending petition of 10 legislators, seeking a direction to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker to accept their resignation. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took note of the submission of senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for the rebel MLAs, that they also be made parties to the pending petition, which is to be heard on Tuesday.
The court last week restrained Karnataka Speaker from taking any decision till July 16 on resignation and disqualification of 10 rebel MLAs of the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition.
Apart from the question of maintainability of the writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by the MLAs, the Supreme Court had said it needs to address as to whether the Speaker is obligated to decide on disqualification proceedings before accepting the resignation of legislators.
The counsel for the rebels MLAs had contended that the Speaker has not decided on the resignation of the lawmakers to bind them with the party whip and disqualify them from the membership if they violate the whip on the floor of the House.
Kumaraswamy continued to remain confident his Government would get over the crisis. "I have full confidence...Why do you worry," he said reporters in response to a question as the coalition struggled to shore up its numbers brought down by the MLAs' resignations. Senior Congress legislators said they have got more time to continue their efforts to mollify the rebel MLAs.
Keeping up pressure on the Speaker and the Government, BJP also sought to move a no-confidence motion against the over 13-month old Kumaraswamy Government with its members JC Madhu Swamy, KG Bopaiah and CM Udasi submitting a notice, but later agreed to the trust vote schedule.
"As already he (CM) has submitted the motion and has expressed the intention (to seek trust vote), so we will take it up first. Opposition leaders said they have no objection and things can go as suggested, Speaker Kumar said.
Reacting to the developments, senior BJP leader and former State CM BS Yeddyurappa said the BAC meeting went on in a cordial atmosphere. He said after the BJP sought to move a no confidence motion, government decided fix a date for the trust vote.
"We had requested that no business should be transacted until the trust vote is sought, and as per our request the house has been adjourned till the Thursday to meet for trust vote. We welcome it," he said.
Congress Legislature Party leader and coordination committee chief Siddarmaiah said after discussion with both sides, the Speaker has fixed Thursday as the date for trust vote, and "we have agreed to move vote of confidence."
