Sumitra Mahajan accepts resignation of three Karnataka MPs; BJP's strength reduced to 272 in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: With the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan accepting resignation of two BJP MPs from Karnataka - BS Yeddyurappa and B Sreeramulu of BJP - from the Lok Sabha, the ruling party's tally in the lower house reduced to 272.

Besides these two MPs, the resignation of the JD(S) MP from Karnataka, CS Puttaraju, too has been accepted by the Speaker. Acceptance of these three resignations has reduced the Lok Sabha's current strength to 537 as the House has already reported five vacancies.

Four of the five vacant seats - Bhandara-Gondiya and Palghar (Maharashtra), Kairana (Uttar Pradesh) and Nagaland - went to poll on Monday. The counting of these bypolls will take place on May 31.

The BJP's tally in the Lok Sabha has been reduced from 282 in 2014 to 272 now. The party's current strength of 272 in the lower house, however, includes two nominated members.

All the three MPs from Karnataka had resigned in the wake of the state polls after winning their respective Assembly seats.

According to the notification of the Lok Sabha secretariat, the resignations of Yeddyurappa and Sreeramulu were accepted with effect from May 18 while the resignation of the JD(S) was accepted with effect from May 21.

Sources said that the Speaker has, so far, not accepted the resignation of the five YSR Congress Party MPs. She is learnt to have told these MPs, in a meeting on Tuesday, to once again think over their decision to quit.

These five MPs - Vara Prasad Rao V, YV Subba Reddy, PV Midhun Reddy, Y S Avinash Reddy and Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy - had submitted their resignation on April 6 in protest against the central government's denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. They were invited to meet the Speaker on Tuesday.