SC order on rebel MLAs is a bad one, sets the wrong precedent, says Karnataka Congress chief

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao has called the Supreme Court order in respect of 15 rebel MLAs as a “bad” one, encroaching on the rights of the Legislature. “This is a bad judgement which seems to protect the defectors and encourages horse trading and also violating the doctrine of separation of powers,” he tweeted.

“Our disqualification petition with the Speaker against our MLA’s is as per section 2-1A of the anti defection law. It’s not for violating the Whip but for indulging in anti -party activities, to join hands with BJP to topple our Govt and voluntarily giving up membership,” he tweeted.

The Congress had pasted notices of whip at the rooms of rebel MLAs at the legislator home in Bengaluru.


Rao tweeted: “Supreme Court order seems perfectly coordinated to help the rebel MLAs to violate the whip. It has set a wrong precedent as the value of the Whip as per 10th schedule of the constitution is now redundant. An extraordinary order indeed.”

Soon after the Apex Court order, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, AICC general secretary KC Venutopal and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief Siddaramaiah were huddled in a meeting to explore options.

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has scheduled for Thursday a motion of vote of confidence by the government at the request of the Chief Minister.

After the resignations, the Congress tally in the Assembly has dropped from 79 to 66, and JD(S) strength from 37 to 34. With two independent members switching their loyalty, the BJP’s effective strength has gone up to 107, giving it an upper-hand over the ruling coalition. BSP MLA N.Mahesh has continued to support the ruling coalition whose combined strength has dropped to 101 triggering the present political crisis in Karnataka.