DKShi offers olive branch to rebel MLAs, says ready to meet demands

Bengaluru: In a last-ditch effort to save the 13-month old H D Kumaraswamy-led government, that is on the brink of collapse, senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar on Sunday said that the party would meet demands of rebel legislators if they withdrew their resignations and attend the Assembly session from Monday.

On Sunday, rebel MLA M T B Nagaraj, who headed to Mumbai to join other rebels after talks to mollify him appeared to have failed told reporters that question of withdrawing his resignation does not arise.

After offering an olive branch to the rebel MLAs, Shivakumar said that they will face disqualification and lose membership if they defy the party whip issued to all its members, including them, for their presence in the Assembly.

“Presence of all the members in the Assembly is mandatory as the Finance Bill of the state budget for 2019-20 fiscal had to be passed in the session by July 26 and voting in favour of the confidence motion if moved by the chief minister (H.D. Kumaraswamy). I am sure the rebels are well aware of the law,” Shivakumar said.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders have expressed confidence of winning the trust vote in the Assembly.