Karnataka News Updates: Will allot slot for vote of confidence whenever HD Kumaraswamy seeks it, says Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar

Will allot slot for vote of confidence whenever Karnataka CM seeks it, says Assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar

In the wake of HD Kumaraswamy​ deciding to seek a trust vote , Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh​ Kumar Friday said a slot would be allotted whenever the Karnataka Chief Minister opted for it.

“The chief minister has spoken his mind that he would not cling to power amid the confusion. He said he will seek the trust of the House,” the Speaker told reporters in Bengaluru.

“Whenever he tells me that he wants to move the trust motion, the very next day I will put it in the business of the day,” he added.

The embattled chief minister Friday sought time from the Speaker to move the trust vote in the House in the wake of resignation by 16 MLAs – 13 from the Congress and three from JD(S).

BJP decides to move it MLAs to Bengaluru’s Ramada Hotel 

#Karnataka: BJP to move its MLAs to Ramada Hotel in Bengaluru. https://t.co/lP8HkezwFz

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

BJP too mulls over shifting MLAs to resort, say reports

According to media reports, the BJP too is thinking of moving its lawmakers to a resort by Friday evening. Earlier, the Congress said that it would move its MLAs to Bengaluru’s Clarks Exotica Convention Resorts.

‘Our decision is final, there is no going back’: Rebel MLA BC Patil outside Siddhi Vinayak Temple

Rebel Congress leader BC Patil outside Siddhi Vinayak Ganpati Temple in #Mumbai: We will abide by the Supreme Court order. Our decision is final, there is no going back. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/xAvMGWTetV

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

Congress to move its MLAs to Bengaluru’s Clarks Exotica Convention Resorts post Assembly proceedings 

#Karnataka: Congress to move its MLAs to Clarks Exotica Convention Resorts in Bengaluru, after the Assembly proceedings today. pic.twitter.com/7EJOtwWLyi

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

Waiting for SC order till Tuesday: Rebel MLAs in Mumbai

With the dissident legislators remaining firm on resigning from the Congress-JD(S) ruling combine, Karnataka MLAs BC Patil and two others came out of Mumbai’s Renaissance hotel to visit Siddhivinayak Temple.

“We are going back to the hotel. We are together and all are united. We tendered our resignation and came to Mumbai. Now, Supreme Court;s order is till Tuesday, we will honour it,” the MLAs said. 

#NewsAlert -- We are going back to the hotel. We are together and all are united. We tendered our resignation and came to M. Now, Supreme Court;s order is till Tuesday, we will honour it: Rebel MLAs at Siddhivinayak Temple | #KarnatakaNataka pic.twitter.com/LZ3m8cWu6A

— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 12, 2019

RECAP | Speaker has responsibility to satisfy himself whether resignations were voluntary: advocate Rajeev Dhavan

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, said the apex court had passed an “ex-parte” order without issuing notice to the Speaker.

Several corruption allegations against the state government have been levelled in the plea of the rebel MLAs while securing a judicial order, Dhavan said. One of the rebel MLAs were involved in a Ponzy scam for which the government is being accused, he added. 

“Speaker has the responsibility to satisfy himself that resignations were voluntary… The Supreme Court order was passed without hearing the other side, what can the speaker do in such a situation,” said Dhavan.

Not here to cling to power: Kumaraswamy in Karnataka Assembly

The embattled JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said he was ready for everything and that he was not here to cling to power.

Kumaraswamy made the plea seeking the trust vote in the Assembly, which met in Bengaluru amid a flurry of political developments that have pushed his government on the brink of collapse.

A total of 16 MLAs including 13 from the Congress and three from JD(S), have submitted their resignations, while two independents, who were made Ministers recently, have rescinded their support to the 13-month old ruling combine.

HD Kumaraswamy seeks trust vote in Assembly

After the hearing in the Supreme Court, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy sought a trust vote in the Karnataka State Assembly

“Today there are many things happening in our state’s politics because of the decisions of many MLAs, which has created a difficult situation. I am not here to sit in power, I appeal to you that in light of the developments I want to move a trust motion.”

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy in Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru: After all these developments, I am seeking your permission & time to prove the majority in this session. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/olx8BZ90Xx

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

Plea of rebel MLAs should not have been entertained: Kumaraswamy

On behalf of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the Supreme Court that plea of MLAs should not have been entertained. “In their plea, MLAs levelled corruption allegations and order was passed without hearing the CM,” Singhvi added.

Next hearing on Karnataka political crisis on Tuesday 

Hearing in the matter of rebel Karnataka MLAs: The Supreme Court said, we will consider the issue on Tuesday. https://t.co/3O0wV1Kq0Q

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

SC orders status quo till Tuesday on Karnataka’s 10 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs

Breather for Congress-JD(S) ruling combine as the Supreme Court said that it needed to be examined if Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar required time to decide on disqualification of the MLAs. “It also requires to be ascertained if the Speaker yesterday sent back the disqualification petitions,” Sc order.

The top court has also ordered status quo with regard to resignation and disqualification of 10 MLAs. The matter will be heard next on Tuesday.

‘Resignation is a ploy to avoid disqualification’: Singhvi making submissions for Speaker

Representing Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, Abhishek Manu Singhvi stated that it was a constitutional duty of the Speaker to ensure that mass resignations are voluntary and genuine.

Singhvi argued argue that the disgruntled MLAs’ intention in giving resignation is something different, and it is to avoid disqualification.

“Resignation is a ploy to avoid disqualification,” said Singhvi.

Karnataka Assembly Timeline:

The political turmoil continued to haunt the 15th state Assembly, ruled by the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) combine, the coalition partners in Karnataka, with 18 MLAs submitting their resignations till now.

In total, 16 MLAs (13 from the Congress and three from the JDS) have resigned over the last week, pushing the coalition government to the brink of collapse. Two independent MLAs have also withdrawn support to the 13-month-old coalition government. 

Not involved in any such petition: Karnataka Congress after youth members move SC against rebel MLAs

Contradicting the media reports showing that Youth congress has moved the Supreme Court seeking disqualification of rebel MLAs, the Karnataka Congress tweeted that it was “far from truth”.

Contrary to the reports showing in media that Youth congress has petitioned the SC asking for MLA's disqualification is far from truth.

Youth congress is not involved in any such petition.

We request Media to exercise caution & verify legitimacy of such news before airing them.

— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) July 12, 2019

Inquiry needed to ascertain if mass resignations of Karnataka MLAs are genuine: Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Making submissions on behalf of Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that an inquiry was needed to be conducted to look into the mass resignations of rebel MLAs and ascertain if they are genuine.

“By way of 1974 Amendment, it has been made clear that resignations cannot be merely accepted and inquiry has to be conducted to ascertain if resignations are genuine,” said Singhvi.

#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis: By way of 1974 Amendment, it has been made clear that resignations cannot be merely accepted and inquiry has to be conducted to ascertain if resignations are genuine, submits Singhvi.

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) July 12, 2019

Hearing of rebel MLA’s plea resumes in Supreme Court, Mukul Rohatgi accuses Speaker of ‘riding two horses’

The hearing of disgruntled MLAs resumed in the Supreme Court. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who is representing the ten rebel MLAs said that the Karnataka Speaker was acting in a partisan manner.

Rohatgi said, " Karnataka Speaker is ducking and acting in a partisan manner. If MLAs say they want to resign, and it is voluntary, then what more is there to it? There is no procedure for it."

#KarnatakaPolitics: Speaker is riding on two horses.

He says Supreme Court is nobody to give me direction, submits Rohatgi.

He also says he has to study the resignations.

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) July 12, 2019

Will give whip to attend the Monsoon session from today: Yeddyurappa

Ahead of the Karnataka Monsoon Assembly session, which is scheduled to begin at 12.30 pm, BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa said, “We will give a whip to attend the session from today to the end of this month.”

BS Yeddyurappa, BJP, on Karnataka Assembly session beginning today: We will give a whip to attend the session from today to the end of this month. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/t9y0Xijb7a

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

Resignations of rebel MLAs tantamount to defection, says Karnataka Youth Congress leader Anil Chacko Joseph

A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was told by the counsel of Anil Chacko Joseph, Karnataka Youth Congress leader , that the resignations by the rebel MLAs were nothing, but a kind of defection and sought a hearing as an intervenor.

The apex court has listed for hearing on Friday the petition of the 10 rebel MLAs seeking a direction to Karnataka Assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar for accepting their resignations.

Chacko, in his application, said that a resignation had the same effect as defecting from a party and that the MLAs were “bought or persuaded to resign by payment of enormous sums of money”.

The apex court allowed Chacko to be heard as intervenor in the matter.

Karnataka Congress workers file intervention application in SC, seeks disqualification of rebel MLAs

A fresh plea has been moved in Supreme Court by Karnataka Youth Congress chief and 400 party workers. The party members filed an intervention application in the top court, saying that resignation of lawmakers is “tantamount to defection”, and hence demanded their disqualification.

The matter has been mentioned before the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

#Karnataka youth Congress Secretary and hundreds other move #SupremeCourt, seeking an audience today. They maintain resignations by MLAs should be treated as defecting to the other party & they should be disqualified. #CJI allows them to file the intervention application.

— Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) July 12, 2019

Don’t understand what further verification is required: Advocate Rohatgi on Karnataka Speaker taking time to ‘decide’ on resignations

Representing Karnataka rebel MLAs, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said that he was perplexed as to why Speaker Ramesh Kumar needed further time to verify the resignations if all the lawmakers had appeared before him and submitted heir affidavits. 

“We’ll ask court to implement its order so that speaker takes decision as soon as possible. If all MLAs appeared before him, gave affidavits and moved Supreme Court that they want to resign, what further verification is required I don’t understand,” said Rohatgi.

Sr lawyer M Rohatgi,representing K'taka rebel MLAs: We'll ask court to implement its order so that speaker takes decision as soon as possible.If all MLAs appeared before him,gave affidavits&moved SC that they want to resign,what further verification is required I don't understand pic.twitter.com/cRMnn3dAjm

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

Karnataka Assembly Monsoon session to begin at 11am

The 11-day monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature will commence at 11 am on Friday with chief minister HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition government on a sticky wicket following resignation of 16 MLAs – 13 from Congress and the three from JD(S).

Kumaraswamy said his Cabinet was ready to face the situation “bravely” and “withstand” it unitedly. The chief minister also said he was ready to face a no-confidence motion, if moved by the Opposition BJP.

What is anti-defection law?

Anti-defection law, also known as the tenth schedule of the Constitution, was amended in 1985 to prevent political defections and stop legislators from switching sides.

The 13-month-old Congress-JDS government had earlier in the month of July slumped into crisis following the resignation of 10 MLAs.

Congress leader and Karnataka Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar, who is back in Bengaluru after a failed trip to Mumbai to meet and placate the disgruntled MLAs staying there, expressed his optimism that “good sense will prevail” and the dissidents will withdraw their resignations.

“I have confidence that they will have good sense and not leave party from which they have been elected,” Shivakumar said at the Vidhana Soudha.

The 225-member state Assembly includes one nominated MLA. The halfway mark is 113.

RECAP | Kumaraswamy says Congress-JD(S) alliance going strong despite efforts to destabilise 

Amid crisis within the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka, Karnakata chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the coalition government is going strong despite efforts being made to destabilise it.

“Congress-JD(S) coalition in the state is going strong despite the efforts to destabilise. We are confident and prepared for smooth and fruitful conduct of legislative sessions,” Kumaraswamy said ahead of the commencement of the monsoon session of the legislative Assembly.

He went on to say that it is “unnecessary” to give importance to Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh’s “casual meeting” with BJP leaders at the new building of KK guesthouse, managed by KSTDC, which comes under his portfolio.

Chikkodi MLA and chief whip of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government Ganesh Hukkeri had on Thursday issued a whip to party MLAs to attend the Assembly session to pass the finance bill.

Kumaraswamy said that the Assembly will discuss several other matters and absent MLAs will be disqualified under the ‘anti-defection law’.

Karnataka Speaker to meet three dissident MLAs at 4pm today

As the political upheaval in Karnataka continued to split over to Friday, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has given appointment to three of the five legislators whose resignations were in the prescribed format on Friday at 4 pm.

Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has given appointment for 4:00 PM today to three of the five MLAs whose resignations were in the prescribed format. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/ABAcvUIhvO

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2019

RECAP |  karnataka speaker moves SC against order to take decision on resignation of 10 rebel MLAsSpeaker

Ramer Kumar moved the top court against this order on Thursday, and the matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi who said that the Speaker’s application is taken up for hearing along with the main matter on Friday.

The bench told Singhvi that Kumar’s application will be heard Friday.

SC to hear plea of disgruntled Congress-JD(S) MLAs, Speaker today as political turmoil in state deepens

The political turmoil in Karnataka spilled over to another day as Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, despite a Supreme Court order, ruled out any immediate decision on the resignation of rebel MLAs in the crisis-hit ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition, saying he cannot be expected to work at “lightning speed”.

On Thursday, Kumar moved the top court against its order asking him to take a decision on the resignation of 10 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs during the course of the day.