Bengaluru: Legislative Assembly Speaker K.B. Koliwad has decided to seek a clarification from former chief minister and JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy regarding the disqualification petitions pending against eight rebel MLAs of the party including Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahamed Khan.
Before adjourning to September 22 the petition seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs of JD(S) who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections in June by defying the party whip, the Speaker has decided to write a letter to Mr Kumaraswamy to seek clarification on three issues.
Speaking to reporters, he said that after MLAs cross-voted in favor of the Congress in Rajya Sabha elections, the party president had not informed the Assembly about this nor did he name the MLAs who violated the party whip. The JD(S) president has also not provided the names and addresses of the MLAs who violated the party whip, the Speaker said.
“I need a clarification from Mr. Kumaraswamy, after seeking the information, the proceedings will start”, Mr Koliwad said. Four of the eight MLAs had attended the proceedings and the Speaker had directed them to hire advocates to defend their cases. The MLAs have sought 12 weeks to hire advocates, but the Speaker had rejected their plea and given them a week’s time to depute advocates.
