17 Rebel Congress JDS Lawmakers Disqualified By KR Ramesh Kumar

Mumbai: Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has disqualified all 17 rebel Congress-JDS MLAs from the legislature till the term of the current Assembly expires.

Kumar said, The 17 lawmakers, who brought down the HD Kumaraswamy government in a dramatic development last week, cannot contest in the by-election during the current term. However, the MLAs could challenge his decision in court.

Addressing the media on Sunday, Kumar a veteran of Karnataka politics said: “I hold that Pratap Gouda Patil from Maski constituency, BC Patil from Hirekerur, Shivram Hebbar from Yellapura, ST Somshekar from Yeshwantpur, BS Basavaraj from KR Pura, Anand Singh from Bellary, Roshan Baig from Shivaji Nagar, Munirathna from RR Nagar, Sudhakar from Chikkabalapura and MTB Nagar from Hiskotel have incurred disqualification under X schedule and all of the above cease to be member of Karnataka assembly from 29/7 till expiry of term of assembly.”

He said, “I hold that Vishwanath of Hunsur, Narayan Gowda and Gopalaiah of Mahalakshmi Layout and KR Pete have incurred disqualification ACC to X schedule of Constitution and respondent cease to be members of Karnataka assembly.” Kumar also added the name of Kagwad’s Shrimanth Balasaheb Patil to the list.

The decision has indirectly helped B.S.Yeddiyurappa who otherwise had to accommodate these MLAs in his cabinet after the ruling BJP allegedly promised them ministerial positions in return for their help in bringing down the HDK government. Now the total strength of the house has come down to 207 from earlier 224 members.

Together, the JDS and congress have 100 MLAs including the speaker. If the BJP wins eight seats in the Assembly, it will reach the majority mark of 113 on its own, bringing stability to the government

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