The ruling coalition Janata Dal (S) and Congress government headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy in Karnataka veered to the brink of collapse on Saturday as 14 MLAs submitted their resignation.

Earlier, a group of MLAs led by former JD(S) president H. Vishwanath trouped into the Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar’s chamber on Saturday afternoon. But the the Speaker had left by then.

The Chief Minister and State Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao are on a private visit to the U.S. and U.K., respectively.

The JD(S)-Congress coalition’s total strength, including those who have put in their papers, is 118 (Congress-78, JD(S)-37, BSP-1 and independents-2), besides the Speaker. The BJP has 105 MLAs in the House, where half-way mark is 113. The strength of the House is 225 including one nominated MLA.

14 MLAs resigned, says Vishwanath

Former JD(S) president and senior MLA H. Vishwanath told presspersons that a total of 14 MLAs, including Anand Singh and Ramesh Jarkiholi, have resigned from the Legislative Assembly.

Mr Anand Singh and Mr Jarkiholi have submitted their resignations earlier in the week.

After a meeting with the Governor, a group of MLAs, who called on Governor Vajubhai Vala, posed for a photograph outside the Raj Bhavan. The MLAs submitted copies of their resignations to the Governor.

Mr Vishwanath said “crisis in governance” in the government led by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was the major reason for their resignations. He also said the coalition government has failed to meet the aspirations of the people. “The coalition government had not taken into everyone into confidence in its functioning. This has hurt us”’, Mr Vishwanath said.

BJP seeks to distance itself from resignation of MLAs

BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa has sought distance the the party from the resignations of Congress and JD(S) MLAs. “We are in no way related to the resignations of these MLAs. As we had predicted the government seems to be collapsing under the weight of its own contradictions. BJP is adopting a wait and watch approach. We will take a call at a suitable time,” he said.

Deve Gowda ‘unaware’ of developments

JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda claims he is unaware of the developments. He says he will discuss the issue with his legislators.

He refuses to speak on the issue; says he will speak only after the Speaker takes a decision.

11 MLAs have submitted resignation letters, says Speaker

Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar says 11 MLAs of the ruling JD(S) and Congress have tendered their resignation. He is he is not aware of the MLAs visiting his office at the Secretariat. He will into their resignations on Tuesday.

With pre-occupied official work on Monday, the Speaker says he will go to the office on Tuesday.

Policemen outside the office of Karnataka Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on July 6, 2019.   | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

“No MLA has taken appointment of visiting my office”, he states. His office has taken the resignation letters. He will discharge his constitutional responsibilities.

When asked about MLAs calling on the Governor, he says, "Let them [MLAs] go to the Raj Bhavan or the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, I am not bothered".

MLAs to meet Governor

The MLAs, who stepped out of the Speaker's office, refuse to speak to the press on their next move. They reach Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Vajubhai Vala.

Eight MLAs 'resign'

A large posse of policemen are seen outside Raj Bhavan as Karnataka MLAs who had resigned went in to meet the Governor, in Bengaluru on July 6, 2019.   | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

As many as eight Congress and JD(S) legislators are said to have resigned from the membership of the Legislative Assembly on Saturday. They have reportedly submitted their resignations to the Assembly Secretary M K Vishalakshi.

The MLAs have also reportedly submitted resignations to Speaker’s private secretary Roopashri since the Speaker was not in his chamber.

Water Resources Minister and the Congress's ‘troubleshooter’ D.K. Shivakumar rushed to the Secretariat to request the legislators not to resign as the party is ready to look into their grievances. 

Mr Shivakumar straightaway goes to the Speaker’s chamber where a dozen of MLAs have been waiting for nearly an hour to meet the Speaker.

K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, too is expected to reach Bengaluru by Saturday evening to take stock of the development and discuss the issues raised by legislators.

Police security to Narayanagowda's residence

The K.R. Pet police have provided security to K.C. Narayanagowda's residence at K.R. Pet town on Saturday.

The two-time JD(S) MLA from K.R. Pet Assembly segment, who is also a businessman in Mumbai, is said to have tendered his resignation on Saturday and decided to join the BJP.

Following the development, the police have stepped up the security to his residence.

Meanwhile, the JD(S) has decided to hold protests against Mr. Narayanagowda for his decision to resign and support the BJP.

Seven-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy to quit Assembly

Seven-time Congress MLA and former Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who represented the Congress in the BTM layout constituency in Bengaluru, confirmed that he is resigning from the membership of the Assembly.

The Congress and JD(S) legislators have decided to stay put at the Speaker’s chamber till he arrives.

Political crisis erupts in Karnataka, with nearly a dozen Congress and JD(S) MLAs planning to resign from the Legislative Assembly.