Karnataka Crisis Updates: 10 Rebel Karnataka MLAs Of Congress And JD(S) Move Supreme Court

Ten rebel Karnataka MLAs of Congress and JD(S) today moved the Supreme Court, alleging that the Assembly Speaker has been deliberately not accepting their resignations.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took note of the submission of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the rebel MLAs, and assured him that it will see whether their petition can be listed for an urgent hearing tomorrow.

PTI

High drama was witnessed outside a hotel after DK Shivakumar was prevented from entering the premises where the rebel MLAs are stationed. Shivakumar, who was accompanied by senior JD(S) MLAs, told reporters that he had booked a room in the hotel but was not being permitted inside.

On Tuesday midnight, 10 of the 12 MLAs put up in the luxury hotel in Powai wrote to Mumbai Police, saying they feared a threat to their lives, and asked that Shivakumar be prevented from entering the hotel.

"We have received a letter from the rebel MLAs," a senior police official said.

Shivakumar, the Congress troubleshooter, said he will not leave without meeting the MLAs. "I only have a heart that I have come to extend to my friends...politics is an art of possibility," he said.

There was a massive police presence outside the hotel where a group was seen shouting "Shivakumar go back".

"I am not afraid of slogans against me. Not being permitted inside because of security threat. I have a lot of respect for the Maharashtra government. I don't have weapons," Shivakumar said.

PTI

Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar arrived in Mumbai Wednesday morning to make a last ditch attempt to pacify the rebel MLAs stationed here at a luxury hotel.

On his arrival, Shivakumar told reporters, "Let the Mumbai police or any other force be deployed. We have come to meet our friends. We are born together in politics and will die together."

12 MLAs — seven of Congress, three of JD(S) and two Independents are in the city since Saturday after resigning from the membership of the assembly and withdrawing support to the state's coalition government.

Late midnight, ten of the MLAs wrote to the police fearing threat to their lives and asked that Shivkumar be prevented from entering the hotel where they are put up.

PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka has decided to stage a dharna in Bengaluru on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. The party claims that Kumaraswamy has lost majority after 14 MLAs of the ruling Congress-JD(S) quit.

"I have held discussions with our legislators and we have decided to hold a protest in front of the Gandhi statue at 11 a.m. demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy who has lost majority," party state unit Chief BS Yeddyurappa told reporters.

The former Chief Minister has been holding a series of meetings with party leaders at his residence since morning on the ongoing political developments and BJP's plan of action. According to sources, Yeddyurappa is expected to meet Governor Vajubhai Vala at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

BJP's protest comes a day after Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah staged a dharna in front of the Gandhi statue, accusing the party of trying to destabilize the government by undemocratic means, using money and political power.

In a blow to the Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) government, the number of coalition MLAs who have resigned has increased to 14, with the addition of R Roshan Baig on Tuesday. Of the 14 MLAs,11 are from Congress and three from JD(S).

Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders,led by party state General Secretary Arvind Limbavali went to the office of the Speaker Ramesh Kumar to meet him, but he was not there. Speaking to reporters, Limbavali said they had come to meet him regarding the assembly session,starting from July 12.

"But the Speaker has told us he is away, so we will seek an appointment once again and meet him." PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has suggested JD(S) MLAs to be at Prestige Golfshire Club in Bengaluru for at least four days, amid an unravelling Karnataka political crisis. ANI

Congress Rajya Sabha MPs from Karnataka have accused the BJP of "destabilising" the state's coalition government even as they raised the pitch for a debate on the political crisis in the Upper House of the Parliament. The Congress MPs said that they will continue to protest till their demand for the debate in Rajya Sabha is not met.

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday witnessed uproar over the Karnataka political crisis with Congress MPs storming the well of the Upper House and raising slogans, leading to adjournment of proceedings for the day. Chairman of the House, M Venkaiah Naidu, did not allow the Congress members to debate on the crisis.

"The BJP is saying it is not involved in destabilising the government. It is a big lie. From whose aircraft were the resigned MLAs flown to Mumbai?" said Congress MP BK Hariprasad.

He also alleged that Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa's personal assistant as well as Union Minister Piyush Goyal were carrying out 'Operation Kamala' on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. PTI

The Special Investigation Team investigating the alleged IMA Group ponzi scam has served a notice to Congress MLA Roshan Baig, asking him to appear before it Thursday.

This comes hours after the Shivajinagar MLA resigned from the Karnataka Assembly. He was earlier suspended from the Congress for his alleged anti-party activities.

"Yes, we have served a notice," said an investigating officer of the SIT.

The ponzi scheme operator and owner of IMA Jewels Mohammed Mansoor Khan, who is absconding, had in an audio message accused Baig of taking Rs 400 crore from him and not refunding it.

Baig had refuted the allegation, saying the statement was "frivolous, baseless and mischievous." The MLA also saw his name being dragged in the case as a fallout with his adversaries in the Congress. PTI

The Congress on Tuesday staged a walkout in Lok Sabha after accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of indulging in "politics of poaching" in Karnataka, a charge denied by the ruling party at the centre.

The Congress tried to raise the Karnataka political crisis issue in Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour but was disallowed by Speaker Om Birla, who said the matter was discussed in the House on Monday with a response from Deputy Leader of House Rajnath Singh. Birla said the Congress had given an adjournment motion to discuss the Karnataka issue, which he has disallowed.

With the Speaker refusing to relent, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, said the BJP was targeting the Karnataka government. In response, Singh said the Karnataka issue was an internal matter of the Congress. "The Congress cannot get its House in order and is disrupting the Lower House," Singh said.

Prior to that, Congress members also entered the Well and raised slogans, accusing the BJP of throttling democracy. "The politics of poaching should be stopped. The politics of targeting should be stopped. Today it is Karnataka and tomorrow it will be Madhya Pradesh," Chowdhury said.

"You (the ruling party) say you have no role in (destabilising government) in Karnataka. But when an MLA comes out of Raj Bhavan, there is a car ready for him, when he is at the airport, there is an aircraft ready for him.... The politics of poaching and targeting must be stopped," Chowdhury said and staged a walkout. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi also walked out and were followed by DMK members. PTI

Out of the 13 MLA resignations, eight are not according to law, Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar says. “(I) have written to the governor that none of the rebel MLAs have met me. He has expressed confidence that I'll uphold constitutional norms. I've given them (Rebel MLAs) time to present themselves before me,” says Kumar. ANI

“Congress and JD(S) MLAs don't have faith in their own leaders and government. We are not behind any MLAs from Congress or JD(S),” says Union Minister and BJP Leader Sadananda Gowda. ANI

Karnataka Chief Minisetr HD Kumaraswamy has reached the Prestige Golfshire Clubin Bengaluru, where the JD(S) MLAs still supporting the government are staying. They were moved to the resort from Taj West End on Monday night. ANI

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has adjourned Rajya Sabha proceedings until Wednesday after Congress MPs created a ruckus in the Upper House over the Karnataka political crisis.

The Congress and JD(S) MLAs have resigned due to lack of development in Karnataka, says Rebel JD(S) MLA Narayan Gowda in Mumbai. “The Karnataka CM travelled abroad without consultation with MLAs, no work was progressing in the state. We will stay here for two days and then we will return,” he says. ANI

All eyes are now on Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, who has to take a call on the resignations tendered by 13 MLAs of the Congress and the JD(S). Kumar, thus, holds the key to the future of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government.

Asked whether the resignations submitted to his office were acceptable, Kumar hinted the MLAs may have to personally hand them over. "Then I am not required at all. If everything can happen through postal correspondence, I am not required at all,” he said. The rebel MLAs—along with two independents—are said to be camping somewhere in Maharashtra and have most likely switched their loyalty to the BJP. PTI

“We are still in the Congress but have resigned from the MLA post,” says Rebel MLA ST Somachekar in Mumbai. A total of 10 MLAs of Congress and JD(S) have submitted their resignations to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker and Governor Vajubhai Vala, he says, adding that they are not expecting a ministerial berth.

“The people of Karnataka do not like a ‘Maitri’ government,” he says. ANI

Karnataka Congress MLA Roshah Baig has resigned from the post, a day after making public his intension to do so. Baig was suspended in June for his "anti-party" activities.

"I have made up my mind almost. I'm bycotting the party meeting tomorrow since I have been suspended," Baig said on Monday. He clarified that he has not made up his mind yet to join the BJP. ANI

Congress Legislature Party leader in Karnataka Siddaramaiah said the party would seek the disqualification of the rebel MLAs who have resigned. The former chief minister also requested the MLAs to come back or face the consequences.

Siddaramaiah was talking to reporters after a Congress meeting convened to manage the Karnataka political crisis stemming from the resignations of 13 MLAs—10 of the Congress and three of the JD(S).

The BJP has been destabilising elected governments in Karnataka and other states in an anti-democratic manner, he charged. "Ever since the coalition government took over in the state, the BJP is trying to destabilise it," the former chief minister alleged.

"This is their sixth attempt," he added.

Siddaramaiah said the Congress would petition the Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, seeking disqualification of MLAs who have tendered their resignation. "We are going to stage a dharna near the Gandhi statue for an hour where all the MLAs will participate after which we will submit the petition to the Speaker," he said. PTI

“Poaching politics should be stopped forever,” Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says in Lok Sabha before party lawmakers staged a walkout over the Karnataka political crisis. Meanwhile, in Karnataka, Congress held a protest march in Kalaburagi. ANI

Fourteen MLAs of Karnataka's Congress-JD(S) coalition are stationed 90 km from Pune, awaiting Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar's decision on their resignations before taking a call on proceeding to Goa or returning to Bengaluru, sources say.

The 14 MLAs, who are at the centre of the Karnataka political crisis, had been staying in a luxury hotel in Mumbai and left for Goa on Monday evening. They are however at an undisclosed location 90 km from Pune towards Satara, sources say. If their resignations are accepted, they may even go back to Bengaluru.

"The decision on whether to go to Goa will be taken at 3 pm after the Karnataka Assembly Speaker takes a call on the resignations of these MLAs. If he accepts the resignations, the MLAs may even go back to Bengaluru," a source said.

Seven more MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) alliance are likely to join the 14 legislators later in the day, the source said.

The monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature will begin on July 12. PTI

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has adjourned Rajya Sabha proceedings till 2 PM amid uproar by Congress members over the Karnataka political crisis.

“I have certain rules, I’ll go by that,” says Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, when asked whether he has accepted the resignations of rebel MLAs of the Congress and JD(S). “I have to be responsible. Certain things in law are implied. Office of Speaker should behave responsibly. No time-frame is mentioned there."

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till noon following uproar by Congress MPs over the Karnataka political crisis that is threatening the party’s coalition government in the state.

Congress MPs stormed into the well of the Upper House, shouting slogans against the BJP, which it has blamed for fuelling a rebellion among Congress and JD(S) MLAs in Karnataka. TMC members too trooped into the well over some issue concerning West Bengal, forcing Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn proceedings till noon.

This is the first adjournment that Rajya Sabha has witnessed since Parliament met for the maiden session of the new Narendra Modi government.

Naidu said he has received a notice under Rule 267 from Congress MP BK Hariprasad, seeking suspension of the listed business to take up the Karanataka political crisis. "I am not allowing it," he said, and adjourned the Rajya Sabha. PTI

It has become Congress’ nature to blame anybody for their failure, Union Minister and BJP leader Prahlad Joshi says about the Karnataka political crisis. “Their MLAs have submitted their resignations to the governor. We are monitoring the situation and will decide accordingly.” ANI

Congress leader DK Shivakumar has targeted Rajnath Singh after the Defence Minister claimed on Monday that the BJP has nothing to do with the Karnataka political crisis. “BS Yeddyurappa is also saying the same, but he is sending his PA to pick up all our ministers,” says Shivakumar. ANI

Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar says he is acting as per the Constitution of India and is “nowhere related" to the Karnataka political crisis. “Till now, no MLA has has sought an appointment with me. If anyone wants to meet me, I will be available in my office,” says Kumar. ANI

Karnataka Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao is confident that the Congress-JD(S) government will survive and stay. ANI

Leaders of the Congress Legislative Party in Karnataka, including Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, MLA Priyank Kharge and others, are meeting at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru over the Karnataka political crisis.

Congress MP BK Hariprasad has submitted an adjournment motion notice in Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 over the current Karnataka political crisis. Congress Lok Sabha MPs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and K Suresh have submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over the unravelling Karnataka political crisis. ANI

A meeting of Congress' Lok Sabha MPs, called by the United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, has started in the Parliament premises. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress MLAs are meeting in Bengaluru under the leadership of Former CM Siddaramaiah to take stock of the current political situation in the state. ANI

We (the BJP) are almost 107, they (Congress-JDS) have fallen to 103. I think Governor Vajubhai Vala can take the decision to call the BJP to form the Karnataka government,” said Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MP from Udupi-Chikkamagalur.

Here’s a look at the current composition of the Karnataka Assembly:

• Bharatiya Janata Party: 105
• Congress: 69
• Janata Dal (Secular): 34
• Bahujan Samaj Party: 01

Ten Congress MLAs—ST Somashekar, BC Patil, B Basavaraj, Ramalinga Reddy, Muniratna, Mahesh Kumtalli, Pratap G Patil, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Anand Singh, Shivaram Hebbar—have resigned as legislators, reducing the party’s strength in the Karnataka Assembly to 69.

Three JD(S) MLAs—H Vishwanath, Gopalaiah and Narayana Gowda—have resigned as legislators, reducing the party’s strength in the Karnataka Assembly to 34.

Two Independent MLAs, H Nagesh and R Shankar, resigned on Monday.

The total strength of the Karnataka Assembly is 224 MLAs, including the speaker and the chief minister.

The BJP parliamentary party is meeting at the Parliament Library Building today. Two Congress MPs, meanwhile, have sought adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings over the Karnataka political crisis.

Congress Lok Sabha MPs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and K Suresh have submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over the unravelling Karnataka political crisis. ANI

Leaders of the Congress Legislative Party in Karnataka, including Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, MLA Priyank Kharge and others, have started arriving at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru for a party meeting. ANI

The JD(S) MLAs, who are still supporting the Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy-led Karnataka government were on Monday night moved to the Prestige Golfshire Club in Bengaluru from the Taj West End hotel in the city. ANI

The 14 rebel MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka, are expected to reach Goa today in a special flight, sources said. They had left Mumbai on Monday evening and were put up in Pune overnight.

The Karnataka MLAs—10 of the Congress, two of the JD (S) and two Independents—were supposed to travel to Goa by road, accompanied by Mumbai BJP Yuva Morcha president Mohit Bhartiya. However, they were taken to Pune on Monday night from where they are likely to take a flight to Goa, sources said.

Maharashtra BJP legislator Prasad Lad earlier said the 14 MLAs left the Sofitel hotel in Mumbai at 5:00 pm on Monday. They are expected to stay at a resort in Goa. PTI

The BJP Legislative Party in Karnataka is meeting today to decide future course of action amid the unravelling Karnataka political crisis. The BJP would stage state-wide protests from today demanding Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's resignation.

The BJP would stage state-wide protests from today demanding Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's resignation.

"This government has lost the majority and it has no moral right to continue. The chief minister should resign immediately. We will stage demonstrations tomorrow across the state at all the district headquarters," Karnataka BJP President BS Yeddyurappa said in Bengaluru on Monday.

"If at all he has dignity, honour and self-esteem, or if he is aware of Karnataka's culture and traditions, he should immediately resign...,” said BJP MLA R Ashok. “Do not try to stick on to the chair. You do not have the numbers.” PTI

The BJP Legislative Party in Karnataka will meet today to decide future course of action, amid the unravelling Karnataka political crisis.

“It was discussed (at Monday's BJP MLA meeting) to wait for two more days and see if this government resigns or not and then decide our course of action,” says BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali. “Today's meeting was called to discuss the issues to be taken up in the assembly session which begins on 12 July." ANI

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara has accused Governor Vajubhai Vala of encouraging horse trading following a flurry of resignations by Congress and JD(S) MLAs’, plunging the state into a political crisis.

"Our governor, when the MLAs went to submit their resignations to him, there was no necessity for him to chit-chat with them for two hours," Parameshwara said.

"In the photograph you have published, the governor was sitting with the police officer. If there was any threat to any MLA, if the MLAs had asked for any security, then the question of police security arises. But the governor called the police commissioner there and discussed with the MLAs for two hours,” he said.

“In such a situation, we are forced to say that you (Governor Vajubhai Vala) are responsible for the horse trading," he added. PTI

Karnataka Congress' legal department has petitioned the State Assembly Speaker, requesting him not to accept resignations of 13 Congress and JD(S) MLAs.

The Congress requested Speaker Ramesh Kumar to take a final decision only after holding separate inquiry with MLAs and hold hearings to gather public opinion of the constituency they represent.

In a letter to the Speaker, CM Dhananjaya, chairman of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee’s Legal and Human Rights department, said the MLAs have not submitted their resignations in accordance with the constitution and legislative assembly rules.

"They have to submit the resignations to you (Speaker) in person," it pointed and alleged that the legislators have not resigned "voluntarily".

Accusing the MLAs who have resigned of intentionally not meeting Kumar in person, Dhananjaya said they had submitted resignations to his office in his absence, "without taking any prior appointment from you, out of malice".

They resigned "bowing to compulsions,allurements and such resignations cannot be accepted according to law," he added. PTI

As the coalition government of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka teetered on the brink of a full-blown political crisis, all eyes will be on the Assembly Speaker today as to whether he will accept the resignations of the rebel Members of the Legislative Assembly.

All the ministers of the Karnataka govenrment resigned Monday to give a free hand to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to reshuffle his Cabinet. Two Independent MLAs also withdrew their support.

There was no immediate word from the rebel camp on the move to reshuffle the State Cabinet in a bid to save the 13-month-old government.

Meanwhile, the rebel Karnataka MLAs—10 of the Congress and three of the JD(S)—moved to a resort in Goa from the Sofitel hotel in Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai.