Rebel MLAs, JD(S) moves High Court

Bengaluru: A petition has been filed in the High Court of Karnataka by the JD(S) against seven of its rebel MLAs. The petition will be heard on Tuesday. The petition – recorded by C N Balakrishna, Shravanabelagola MLA, and B Ningaiah, Mudigere MLA, looks for the exclusion of the seven MLAs under the anti-defection law.

The petition states that the seven MLAs stood disqualified the minute they voted against the official candidates of JD(S), disregarding the whip issued for the Rajya Sabha elections held on June 11, 2016.

The petition requests the Speaker not to allow the seven MLAs to either take part or cast their votes in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on March 23. The petition has been moved against Zameer Ahmed Khan, N Cheluvarayaswamy, A B Ramesha Bandisiddegowda, H C Balakrishna, Akhanda Srinivasamurthy, Iqbal Ansari and S Bheema Naik.

Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad on Monday saved his ruling after conducting a hearing on the petition documented by the JD(S), looking for debarment of its seven dissident MLAs. During the hearing, the petitioner spoke to the Speaker to discard the appeal to instantly as the seven MLAs had declared that they would vote for the Congress competitor during the Rajya Sabha elections.

Koliwad, in any case, said that it was not authoritative on him to pass the orders right away. He said there was no association between the disqualification petition before him and the Rajya Sabha elections.