AGENCIES / WEB DESK
The fate of the Congress -JDS coalition Government in Karnataka still hangs in balance as none of the rebel MLAs from Congress attended the legislative Party meeting today.
Addressing media persons after the Congress legislative party meeting, party leader Siddaramaiah informed that they will petition the Speaker to disqualify rebel MLAs for anti-party activities.
Terming the resignations by 13 MLAs as not voluntary and genuine, he said, the provision of anti-defection law should be used against them and they should be disqualified for six years from contesting election.
Meanwhile in another development disgruntled Congress MLA Roshan Baig submitted his resignation to the Speaker today. The party has already suspended him for anti-party activities.
The total number of Congress candidates resigning has now gone up to 11. Now all eyes are on the Speaker and Governor as the number of MLAs resigning increasing day by day. Speaker Ramesh Kumar who arrived to his office today has said that he will have to look whether the resignation letters were submitted according to the provisions of the constitution and whether they were voluntarily given by the legislators. Without fixing a time for looking into the issue, he said he will act according to the conscience and faith reposed by people on him. Meanwhile the Congress leaders held a dharna in the Secretariat building accusing BJP of anti-democratic activities.
Meanwhile two independent MLAs, H Nagesh and R Shankar flew to Mumbai to join the 13 rebel Congress and JD(S) Legislators after withdrawing their support to the state government. They also extended their support to BJP.
Earlier yesterday, in the last ditch effort to save the coalition government, all Congress and JD(S) Ministers resigned to accommodate rebel MLAs. The rebel MLAs, however, rejected the offer.
The strength of Congress-JD(S) coalition in the 224 member assembly has come down to 103 with opposition BJP claiming support of 107 MLAs. The party has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy saying that the government has lost its majority.