Plot thickens: 7 MLAs stay off session, Congress’s on edge

BENGALURU: The Congress, ruling coalition partners with the JD(S), found itself in a spot after rebel legislators defied a whip and stayed away from a stormy opening day of the budget session of the legislature on Wednesday.

Seven MLAs, including the four reportedly holed up in Mumbai, stayed away from proceedings and their absence played nicely into the BJP members’ hands, who, rather than move a no-confidence motion, chose to disrupt governor Vajubhai R Vala’s customary address to both houses of the legislature.

As soon as Vala began his address in Hindi, BJP members entered the well of the House and began shouting slogans. They urged the governor not to deliver his address, alleging that the government lacked majority since at least a dozen Congress MLAs were absent.

Vala pleaded with them to take their seats until he completed his address, but there was no let-up in the ruckus. The governor heeded a suggestion from speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and jumped to the last paragraph on page 22 of the speech. He concluded his address in just 10 minutes. Soon after, Kumar declared the address as deemed to have been read.

Congress leaders who met over a dinner decided to suspend two rebel MLAs on Friday if they did not turn up for the CLP meeting.

The BJP, too, was not without worries. BS Yeddyurappa was seen reading a chit with the names of three MLAs absent on Wednesday. One name was that of G Karunakara Reddy, who is said to be ready to switch parties.