By IANS,
Bangalore: Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj Sunday directed assembly Speaker K.G. Bopaiah not to disqualifying the 10 ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebels before the trust vote Monday.
Warning the speaker of constitutional action if his directive was violated, Bhardwaj told Bopaiah to maintain the status quo of the 225-member assembly, including one nominated member (Anglo Indian) as on Oct 6 when the present political crisis broke after 19 dissident lawmakers, including 14 BJP legislators and five Independents withdrew support to the 29-month-old B.S. Yeddyurappa government.
“All the sitting members should be allowed to participate in the session when the confidence motion is taken up Monday,” the governor told the speaker in a letter.
One of the party rebels – Excise Minister M.P. Renukacharya returned to the party fold late Saturday amid high drama in Goa where the dissidents were holed-up for over three days and returned to Bangalore late Sunday after an overnight stay in Chennai.
The governor’s letter was in response to speaker’s show-cause notice Friday to 11 BJP legislators, including Renukacharya to explain by 5 p.m. Sunday, why they should not be disqualified under the anti-defection law for indulging in anti-party activities.
The 10 legislators are Gopalakrishna Beluru, Anand Ansnotikar, Balachandra Jarkiholi, B.N. Sarvabhouma, Bharamgowda Kage, Y.Sampangi, G.N. Nanjundaswamy, M.V Nagaraju, Shivan Gowda Nayak and H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda.
Replying to the speaker’s letter through their lawyers, eight of the rebels said they cannot be disqualified from the house membership in accordance with the state legislative assembly rules pertaining to the disqualification of members on grounds of defection.
“The speaker comes into picture only in the assembly if members defy their party whip and vote against the confidence motion and not on the grounds of indulging in anti-party activities,” a rebel legislator told IANS on phone.
With three more BJP legislators – S.K. Bellubbi, Shivanagouda Naika and Manappa Majjala – joining the rebels Saturday, the strength of the ruling party has reduced to 103 from 117, including the speaker, and 10 less than the half-way mark of 113 required to win the trust vote.
The opposition Congress has 73 members in the house and the Janata Dal-Secular 28, while there are six Independents.