Two days after the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government lost the trust vote, Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly K.R. Ramesh Kumar disqualified three rebel legislators from their Assembly membership with immediate effect till the end of the 15th Vidhana Sabha.
Speaking at a press conference late on Thursday, Mr. Ramesh Kumar promised to take a decision on the resignations of the 14 other rebel legislators “in the next couple of days.”
He further added, “I know this matter will go to court.”
The Speaker disqualified Congress legislators Ramesh L. Jharkiholi and Mahesh Kumathalli representing Gokak and Athani Assembly constituencies respectively, in Belagavi district, and KPJP legislator R. Shankar representing Ranebennur in Haveri district under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. Mr Shankar had merged his party with the Congress just last month.
Impact on numbers
The disqualification of the three MLAs, which is open to a judicial review, brings down the strength of the Assembly to 222, including the nominated member. The Speaker’s decision adds a new dimension to the already fluid political situation in Karnataka. While the Congress-JD(S) coalition has already been voted out, the BJP is yet to stake claim to form the next government.
“They have been disqualified with immediate effect and till the expiry of the legislative Assembly (2023 or otherwise if dissolved early). They cannot enter the 15th legislative Assembly again,” the Speaker said. The disqualification has been initiated against them under paragraphs of 2 (1) (a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution read with Article 191(2), he added.
Karnataka Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar addresses a press conference at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on July 25, 2019. | Photo Credit: Sampath Kumar G P
While disqualification proceedings against Mr. Jharkiholi and Mr. Kumatalli have been initiated based on the Congress’s petition against them on February 11, proceedings against Mr. Shankar are based on the party’s complaint on July 7.
Over the last two days, after the collapse of the 14-month H.D. Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress coalition, all eyes were on the Speaker's decision on the resignations of the rebel legislators and the disqualification proceedings initiated against them by the respective parties.
Though he acknowledged that the anti-defection law cannot be used by parties to throttle internal democracy, Mr. Ramesh Kumar, however, cited the judgement of Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu in the case of former minister and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav’s disqualification from Rajya Sabha, and the case of disqualification of 18 AIADMK legislators in Tamil Nadu after they approached the Governor.
“Whatever Karnataka rebel legislators told the Supreme Court, they could have told the same thing to the government,” he said, referring to the charges that the rebels made against the government in their affidavits filed in apex court.
“The party’s decision is collective. If individuals have a problem, they have to raise the issue within the party. It is a settled law and there is clarity (on this issue),” Mr Ramesh Kumar said.
However, when his attention was drawn to several of the disqualified AIADMK MLAs contesting in byelections to the State Assembly, he said that he was not aware of the circumstances in which this happened.
Resignations
Meanwhile, Mr. Ramesh Kumar also said: “I will be taking a decision on the resignations of [the 14 other] rebel legislators in a couple of days.”
When asked if he would resign before taking a decision on resignations, he said: “Only after I complete my responsibility and not going against my conscience that I will decide on my future.”
On his suggestion that voters should be heard before a decision is taken on the MLAs’ resignations, he said: “I am setting a new precedent. Let the country and State discuss it. Let the lawmakers take a decision on public hearing before the resignations are accepted.”
Mr Ramesh Kumar added that the opinion of the voters can be considered depending on the situation.