Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy (left) with the former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru. (File/PTI)The future of the Kumaraswamy government in Karnataka — which is on the brink of collapse after mass resignations — will be decided on Tuesday as the Supreme Court begins hearing the pleas of 15 rebel MLAs against Speaker K R Ramesh for not accepting their resignations. The Speaker had previously rejected the resignations of 8 of the 13 rebel lawmakers on the ground that they were not in the correct format.
The apex court, which was dealing with the plea of 10 rebel MLAs on July 12, will now hear five more lawmakers who alleged that the Speaker was not accepting their resignations and that they “are being forced to support the government on the threat of disqualification”.
Since July 1, 16 Congress and JD(S) MLAs have submitted resignations — it means the coalition strength will fall to 101 compared to the BJP’s 105 plus two Independents in the 224-member House. If the resignations are accepted, the 13-month-old Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka will lose the majority, paving the way for the BJP to stake claim to form the government
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 pm
Meanwhile, proceedings in Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 12 pm following protests by AIADMK leaders over the cancellation of postal dept
exam. Follow Live updates on Parliament proceedings here
Who are the Karnataka MLAs who have approched the Supreme Court?
The 10 rebel MLAs, on whose petition the status quo was ordered, were -- Pratap Gouda Patil, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Byrati Basavaraj, B C Patil, S T Somashekhar, Arbail Shivaram Hebbar, Mahesh Kumathalli, K Gopalaiah, A H Vishwanath and Narayana Gowda.
he five MLAs, Anand Singh, K Sudhakar, N Nagaraj, Munirathna and Roshan Baig, mentioned their application before a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta Monday seeking impleadment as parties to the pending plea on which it was ordered that the speaker would not take any decision till Tuesday on the resignations and disqualifications.
Roshan Baig's advocate files petition in High Court: Report
Roshan Baig's advocate has filed a petition in High Court questioning the detention of his client in connection with IMA case, reports news agency ANI. The Congress leader was detained at Bengaluru International Airport on Monday night by an SIT probing the multi-crore IMA Group ponzi scam. He was on his way to join a group of 13 rebel coalition MLAs who have been camping in Mumbai for the last 10 days.
Karnataka Speaker has to accept the resignation, no other option: Rohatgi in SC
Appearing for the rebel MLAs, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the Speaker will have to accept the resignations. "There is a vote of confidence in assembly and rebel MLAs may be forced to follow whip despite resigning. Can the MLAs be forced to attend the Assembly? Resignation once moved has to be decided on merits notwithstanding the pendency of disqualification proceeding," he said.
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