In stern message, Congress seeks disqualification of 4 MLAs

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah on Monday recommended disqualification of four Congress MLAs in a formal letter to Speaker Ramesh Kumar on grounds of anti-party activities under the provisions of anti-defection law. The former CM called for action on Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Mahesh Kumathalli( Athani), B Nagendra ( Ballari rural) and Dr UmeshJadhav ( Chincholi) on charges of anti-party activities and for defying the party whip ahead of the CLP meetings and the Legislature Session last week. Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao and Deputy CM G.Parameshwara accompanied Siddaramaiah to Speaker's office.

The Congress has decided to act on the four MLAs to send a stern message to other party lawmakers, and to prevent them from joining their camp. The Congress believes the four MLAs are acting at behest of the BJP to destabilise the JD(S)-Congress government.

The BJP has 104 members in the 224-member Assembly, and is expected to have the backing of two independent MLAs. The Congress has 80 MLAs and JD(S) 37. The Congress strength will now come down to 75 (minus Speaker), and the coalition can still survive.


It is to be seen how the four MLAs will react now.