Congress seeks disqualification of rebel MLAs, urges Speaker to debar them for 6 years

Politics

The Speaker has set up meetings with 3 of the rebel MLAs - Anand Singh, Pratapgouda Patil and Narayana Gowda - on Friday and will only meet Ramalinga Reddy and Gopalaiah on Monday.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Tuesday said that eight of the 13 MLAs who submitted their resignations from the Karnataka Assembly have not followed procedure in their submissions. "Only 5 MLAs have submitted their resignations as per the format - Anand Singh, Ramalinga Reddy Pratapgouda Patil, Narayana Gowda and Gopalaiah," stated KR Ramesh Kumar said.  The Speaker has set up meetings with Anand Singh, Pratapgouda Patil and Narayana Gowda on Friday, the first day of the monsoon session of the Karnataka Assembly. The Speaker will meet Ramalinga Reddy and Gopalaiah only on Monday. "The rest of them have not submitted their resignations as per the correct format. Our office has intimated them to tell them this," said the Speaker.  He further added that he has no role to play in the resignations of independent MLAs H Nagesh and R Shankar as ministers in the Karnataka cabinet. " All copies are available. I will be transparent and will provide all the documents. There is no need to do investigative journalism to get it," he added.   ‘Not resigning from party’ Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the ten Congress and JD(S) MLAs who submitted their resignations from the Karnataka Assembly said that they intend to meet the Speaker and resign but clarified that they are not resigning from their parties.  Speaking to reporters at a hotel in Mumbai, rebel MLA ST Somashekar said, "We have grown in the Congress and even now we are Congress workers. We have submitted our resignations as MLA. In the last 15 months, there has been a public debate that the coalition government might stabilise and work for the development of constituencies. We have waited 15 months and we are hurt by one or the other issue." Somashekar further clarified that the rebel leaders are united in their decision to resign and will meet the Speaker to formalise their resignations soon. "The Speaker has said he wants to meet us. As soon as he calls us to meet, we will go and meet. Till now, nobody has contacted us," he added.  CLP seeks disqualification of MLAs The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) submitted a petition to the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly KR Ramesh Kumar, asking him to disqualify the rebelling MLAs who have resigned and debar them from contesting elections for six years.  “Today we decided to petition the Speaker seeking disqualification of members who are trying to destabilise the government and indulging in anti-party activities. They have colluded with BJP and trying to destabilise the government. I request them to come back and withdraw their resignations. The party has taken a firm stand to request the Speaker to disqualify them. We also informed the Speaker that the resignations are not voluntary and genuine. This attracts anti defection law,” Congress Legislature Party chief Siddaramaiah said. Siddaramaiah accused the rebels of colluding with the BJP and attempting to destabilise the government. He accused the BJP of luring the rebel MLAs by offering them money and ministerial berths.  “Ever since this government was formed, BJP despite failing to prove majority in the floor of the house, they have been constantly trying to destabilise this government. This is the sixth attempt. In this attempt, not only is Karnataka BJP involved, but national level BJP leaders Amit Shah and Narendra Modi are directly involved in this. Only under their direction, the BJP in Karnataka is putting in efforts to destabilise the government. This is against parliamentary system of democracy and against the mandate of the people,” Siddaramaiah added.  Speaking to the media, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the party has an alternate plan to prove majority in case the rebels to not withdraw their resignations despite the ultimatum.  “Speaker is supreme. He will decide whether or not the MLAs have to be disqualified. We have submitted all proof to the Speaker showing that the MLAs have indulged in anti-party activities. If they (Rebel MLAs) di not return despite the warning, we have an alternate plan to prove majority when the BJP pushes for a no confidence motion on July 12,” Dinesh Gundu Rao added.    

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Three more Congress MLAs likely to resign in Karnataka as crisis intensifies

Politics

Sources say three Karnataka legislators Anjali Nimbalkar, MTB Nagaraj and Lakshmi Hebbalkar are likely to tender their resignations to the Speaker.

Theja Ram

Despite Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah warning of rebels MLAs of disqualification, highly placed sources in Congress say that three legislators – Anjali Nimbalkar, MTB Nagaraj and Lakshmi Hebbalkar will tender their resignations to the Speaker. “Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Anjali Nimbalkar and MTB Nagaraj have been contacted by BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa’s PA Santosh. Santosh has been in constant touch with the three MLAs and they will submit their resignation soon,” the source said. Lakshmi Hebbalkar is allegedly being pressured by Santosh to submit her resignation and fly to Mumbai as soon as possible and join the 10 rebels MLAs. “Anjali Nimbakar has also been pressurized a lot. She was approached initially by BJP leaders from Maharashtra. Now Santosh has been in touch with her. Lakshmi Hebbalkar and Anjali Nimbalkar are mulling over quitting as the move to BJP would safeguard their political career in Belagavi,” the source said. Anjali Nimbalkar and MTB Nagaraj chose to skip the Congress Legislature Party on Tuesday, while Lakshmi Hebbalkar was present. The source also said that Chikkaballapura MLA Dr K Sudhakar will not resign contrary to speculation that he would. "The BJP does not want to take Sudhakar into its fold. Yeddyurappa has explicitly told his PA that Sudhakar must not be approached," the source added.  So far, 13 MLAs – 10 from the Congress and 3 from the JD(S) have tendered their resignations to Speaker Ramesh Kumar’s office. On Saturday, when 13 MLAs of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government reached the Speaker’s office to submit their resignations, the Karnataka Assembly Speaker made a quick disappearing act. The Speaker is the only person who can accept resignations of elected legislators in the state. The crisis began after 13 MLAs - 10 Congress and 3 JD(S) - with the coalition submitted their resignations to the Speaker's office last Saturday. The disgruntled legislators met with the Governor and informed him of their decision to resign. Many of the MLAs were flown out to Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai. On July 8, Independent MLA H Nagesh withdrew support from the coalition and KPJP MLA R Shankar also withdrew support. Earlier this month, MLA Anand Singh had also resigned. The strength of the Assembly is 224 including Speaker. With the 13 MLAs resigning, the quorum has reduced to 211. With this spate of resignations, the Congress-JD(S) coalition has 104 MLAs while the BJP has 107 MLAs on its side. The coalition does not have the majority to rule the government if the Speaker accepts the resignation of the MLAs.      

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'Bengaluru civic workers should eat where it stinks': Official's remark sparks outrage

Protest

After pourakarmikas protested against this offensive statement, the erring official apologised, and the agitation was called off.

TNM Staff

The struggles faced by Bengaluru’s pourakarmikas seem to be never ending. In the most recent show of callousness towards the civic workers, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Harshavardhan P N official had an appalling idea to ‘sensitise’ pourakarmikas to the bad odour emanating from garbage near Vengayyana lake – to compel them to eat there. Protesting against this offensive comment, pourakarmikas agitated near Bengaluru’s KR Market. Following the protest, the offending official apologised. "The protest has been called off and a press release will be sent in the evening with further details of the actions taken," stated lawyer activist Lekha Adavi.   The IFS officer had stated that pourakarmikas who work at Vengayyana Lake would be made to eat lunch near the entrance to “sensitise them about the bad odour emanating from the garbage in the area,”. He suggested this, ironically, to “make them realise their responsibility to keep the surroundings clean and clear the garbage.” The officer stated that the women who sort wet and dry waste by hand, would be made to eat lunch near the stench-filled area next to the garbage reasoning that this would make them more inclined to keep the area clean. Incidentally, segregation should not be pourakarmikas’ job – it should be done at source, at the household level. However, these civic workers are compelled to segregate our garbage, because we do not bother to.   Following this offensive and condescending comment, several pourakarmikas along with members of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) took to protesting on Tuesday at KR Puram.  “What do you want me to say? They treat us badly and we suffer a lot. It’s not much that we are asking for, just to be treated with some respect,” said 55-year-old Maheshwaramma, a civic worker. The pourakarmikas go through garbage brought in by the truck load every morning from nearby areas to segregate the waste. They have to endure gruelling conditions along with the foul odours as part of their work. Earlier too, pourakarmikas had protested for months as they had not been paid salaries for months. After this, they were regularised by the BBMP in July 2017 as a result of the state government’s intervention.  However, with casteist statements and crude remarks such as these being casually made by government officials themselves, it is clear that the rights of these workers are still under threat. The AICCTU has condemned the official’s remarks.

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'I may resign, yet to decide': Cong MLA Sowmya Reddy tells TNM

Politics

Sowmya Reddy is the daughter of veteran Congress leader and 7 time MLA Ramalinga Reddy.

Theja Ram

Amidst speculation that more Congress MLAs will resign, Jayanagar MLA and daughter of rebel Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy, Sowmya Reddy told TNM that she was contemplating whether to resign or not.  “I may resign. I am contemplating it. I will speak to my father and my voters and then decide,” she told TNM.  Sowmya’s revelation will come as a huge shock to the Congress which was relying on her to convince her father to withdraw his resignation. The Congress had been hoping that once Ramalinga Reddy was convinced he would ensure that atleast two more MLAs from Bengaluru who had rebelled would come back to the party’s fold. The latest bout of rebellion in the Congress was started by Ramalinga Reddy, a senior leader and 7 time MLA of the party. Reddy, who is reportedly upset with the Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, tendered his resgination on Saturday. However, he did not leave to Mumbai with the other rebel MLAs, giving hope to the Congress that he will not support the BJP to form a government in the state.  On Tuesday morning, Ramalinga Reddy told the media that he had only resigned as an MLA as he was disillusioned. However, he said he was not leaving the party. The Kumaraswamy government has got a small breather now as Karnataka assembly speaker Ramesh Kumar has said that he will accept resignations only when MLAs personally come and meet him.     

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'Will read rules before deciding on resignations’: K’taka Speaker intends to delay?

Politics

The Speaker is the only person who can accept resignations of elected legislators in the state.

TNM Staff

Amidst the growing political crisis in Karnataka, Speaker Ramesh Kumar, in a laid back tone, said that his office is open to any member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) who would like to submit their resignation. However, he also said that he will not be able to accept the resignations soon, as he has to read the rule book carefully, understand the rules, and only then take any decision. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Speaker Ramesh Kumar said, “Anybody can come and resign; they are free to do so. I will be in my office till evening. But I cannot accept immediately as I would need to verify them. I need to go through the rule book, understand it and then come to a conclusion. All members are elected individually. I don't want to commit a mistake; the future should not consider me as an accused." The Speaker also said that the BJP criticised him for being too partisan. “I cannot answer to their allegations,” he added. According to News9, the Assembly Secretary, MK Vishalakshi, has brought the resignation letters of the MLAs to the Speaker’s office. On Saturday, when 13 MLAs of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government reached the Speaker’s office to submit their resignations, the Karnataka Assembly Speaker made a quick disappearing act. The Speaker is the only person who can accept resignations of elected legislators in the state. The crisis began after 13 MLAs - 10 Congress and 3 JD(S) - with the coalition submitted their resignations to the Speaker's office last Saturday. The disgruntled legislators met with the Governor and informed him of their decision to resign. Many of the MLAs were flown out to Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai. On July 8, Independent MLA H Nagesh withdrew support from the coalition and KPJP MLA R Shankar also withdrew support. Earlier this month, MLA Anand Singh had also resigned. The strength of the Assembly is 224 including Speaker. With the 13 MLAs resigning, the quorum has reduced to 211. With this spate of resignations, the Congress-JD(S) coalition has 104 MLAs while the BJP has 107 MLAs on its side. The coalition does not have the majority to rule the government if the speaker accepts the resignation of the MLAs.

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'Resigned as MLA, not from Congress': Rebel Ramalinga Reddy keeps everyone guessing

Politics

Reddy tendered his resignation on Saturday, along with 12 other MLAs of the JD(S)-Congress government.

TNM Staff

Three days after submitting his resignation to Speaker Ramesh Kumar, former Home Minister and rebel Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy clarified that he is still with the party.  "I have only resigned as MLA, not from the party," he told the media on Tuesday.  He also added that he has no demand for any ministry, "Can I tell you the future? I have resigned and I don't have any ministries demand. I don't know why media keeps asking me this. In 25 years, I have been a minister. And I have never lobbied to become one," he added. Multiple sources from the Congress had claimed that Ramalinga Reddy was upset with Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara and wanted the Bengaluru Development portfolio. Ramalinga Reddy's latest revelation came even as his daughter and MLA from Jayanagar, Soumya Reddy attended the Congress Legislature Party meeting at Vidhana Soudha. Soumya had met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Monday, who in turn had reportedly asked the daughter to convince the father to take back his resignation.  Ramalinga Reddy is key to this rebellion. Both the Congress and the BJP have devoted much of their energy to convincing Ramalinga Reddy. The Congress believes that Ramalinga Reddy is only upset at Kumaraswamy and Parameshwara and can be cajoled to not leave the party.  On Saturday, the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka was in a tenuous position once again, after the resignation of 13 MLAs from the ruling coalition.  The crisis this time started after 10 Congress and 3 JD(S), with the coalition submitted their resignations to the Speaker's office last Saturday. The disgruntled legislators met with the Governor and informed him about their decision to resign. The MLAs were flown out to Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai. On July 8, Independent MLA H Nagesh withdrew support from the coalition and KPJP MLA R Shankar too withdrew support. Earlier this month MLA Anand Singh had also resigned. The strength of the Assembly is 224 including Speaker.  With the 13 MLAs resigning, the quorum has called to 221. With these spate of resignations, the Congress-JD(S) coalition has 104 MLAs while the BJP has 107 MLAs on its side. The coalition does not have the majority to rule the government if the speaker accepts the resignation of the MLAs.

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