JD(S) to Eelection Comission: Revoke June 11 poll

BENGALURU: With four days to go for crucial polls to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka, leaders of JD(S) appealed yet again to the Election Commission to countermand Saturday’s polls on grounds that the ruling Congress has misused office to spirit away independent legislators to Mumbai as part of the strategy to secure their support to bag three seats.

The party, which had submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission on May 29 with the same plea to call off polls as the ruling Congress was trying to lure independents and small party MLAs through illegal means, complained about “resort politics” of the ruling party on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Ramesh Babu complained that the Congress had hosted independent legislators in a posh hotel in Mumbai for three days and was planning to escort them to Bengaluru a day before polling.

This was nothing but misuse of office and murder of democracy, and therefore the polls should be cancelled and a probe ordered into activities of the ruling party. In another development related to Rajya Sabha polls, leaders of the state unit of JD (S) are unlikely to take any action against five rebel legislators ahead of elections to Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council.

Sources in the party told Deccan Chronicle that a meeting would be held on June 12 where the course of action against rebel legislators led by former minister Zameer Ahamed Khan would be decided.

Mr Zameer Ahamed has caused enough damage to the party’s image through statements and the leaders were not keen to endure further embarrassment at his hands. Besides, any action at this juncture would only help these legislators vote for Congress candidates.

If suspended, as in the case of Mr A S Nadahalli of Congress, he would continue to hold his seat in the Legislative Assembly. “Janata Dal (Secular) president H D Deve Gowda and state unit president H.D. Kumaraswamy will meet on June 12 to disclose action against Mr Khan and company,” sources added.

Zameer gets show-cause notice
In the first sign of a crackdown on dissidents within JD(S), former minister B.Z. Zameer Ahamed Khan was on Tuesday served a show cause notice for working for the victory of K.C. Ramamurthy, former IPS officer and third candidate of the ruling Congress, in the run-up to Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for Saturday.

Interestingly, the notice was sent by former minister H D Revanna, while other members of the party, including Mr Zameer himself were unaware of the development.

In a single page notice, Mr Zameer Ahamed has been asked to explain how he could campaign for a Congress candidate while being a member of JD(S) in the Assembly. He has been given three days time, which falls on June 11, on why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.

Sources said JD (S) was planning to suspend him on June 12 and would not expel him. In case the party decides to expel him, he would become an independent MLA and the party would not be able to issue him whip inside the Assembly. Technically, he would be still considered a JD(S) MLA.

Meanwhile, Mr Gowda and his kin are likely to initiate action against Nagamangala MLA N Cheluvarayaswamy on the same day. Earlier, they had planned to initiate action against rebels on June 12.

Some MLAs, however, were of the opinion that Mr Gowda's family should sort out differences with dissidents including Magadi MLA H. C. Balakrishna. Though Mr Balakrishna has defied the party leadership, no decision has been taken on initiating disciplinary action against him, sources added.