Decide on JD(S) rebels before vote: JD (S) MLAs

Bengaluru: In a move that puts the onus on the Siddaramaiah government on what it intends to do vis a vis the seven Janata Dal (S) MLAs who have quit the party and tacitly support the Congress, the high court on Tuesday made an oral request to Speaker K B Koliwad to communicate when he would take a decision on the petition seeking disqualification of seven JD (S) MLAs under the Anti-Defection Act.

The court's query comes ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha vote that is scheduled for March 23 where the JD(S) has fielded businessman B.M. Farooq, who needs 44 votes, but is likely to fall short by 14.

Justice Raghavendra Chauhan made the request while hearing a petition filed by JD(S) legislators, C N Balakrishna and B B Ningaiah, seeking directions for disqualification of  B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, N Cheluvarayaswamy, A B Ramesha Bandisiddegowda, H C Balakrishna, Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy R, Iqbal Ansari, and S Bheema Naik, all rebel MLAs of the party.

The petitioners had sought interim directions from the court to Mr Koliwad, not to permit these seven MLAs to cast their votes during Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 23. They contended that these rebel legislators stood disqualified from the moment they voted against the official nominee of JD (S), B M Farooq, in violation of the party whip, during Rajya Sabha elections held on June 11, 2016.

Justice Chauhan observed “We want to send the best people to Rajya Sabha, for they will represent the state and not any political party,” adding that the matter should have been resolved in Vidhana Soudha itself.