Bengaluru: The much-awaited verdict deciding the fate of the disqualified Karnataka legislators has evoked a lot of reactions.
Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao alleged that the Supreme Court’s verdict in the disqualification case of 17 MLAs proved that the BJP played a role in the collapse of the previous coalition government.
Tweeting about the verdict, Rao said, “Supreme Court has upheld the disqualification of all the 17 MLAs who defected from the Congress and JD(S). It also proves that the Karnataka BJP government is an illegal government. BJP had used unconstitutional means to fabricate a majority and they should be immediately dismissed.”
The post further said, “I welcome the #SupremeCourt verdict. The hand of BJP in toppling the coalition government is now clear. The involvement of BS Yediyurappa and Amit Shah is now proved. If BJP has any morality left, they should not give tickets to these disqualified MLAs to contest.”
The Supreme Court upheld the decision of then-Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar to disqualify the 17 rebel MLAs. However, the division bench said that the Karnataka MLAs were open to contest the upcoming by-polls.
Pleased by the verdict: BSY
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has said that he is pleased with the Supreme Court’s verdict in the disqualification case of the 17 Congress and JD(S) MLAs. He also hinted at the possibility of the MLAs joining the BJP party by evening.
Speaking to ANI, Yediyurappa said, “I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court. Now, all 17 MLAs can contest the elections. Tomorrow onwards, we are going to allot tickets for all the assembly constituencies. We will contest on all 17 seats.”
When asked if the disqualified MLAs would contest on a BJP ticket, the Chief Minister replied, “Just wait till evening whether they are joining BJP or not. We will discuss wit them also and decide who will get the ticket.”
Karnataka leaders hail SC decision
“I welcome the Supreme Court judgement. Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Speaker,” Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman G. Madhusudhana told IANS.
Madhusudhana pointed out that the Supreme Court took a wise decision to partially uphold Kumar’s decision and partially reject his decision of barring the rebel legislators from contesting, as it allowed the rebel legislators to contest in the forthcoming by-elections on December 5.
“See whether accepting the resignation or making them disqualified amounts to the same, they were ready to go to elections, they were not shying away from the election, they were quite confident,” said Madhusudhana.
He said everybody is happy with the Supreme Court giving the rebel legislators an opportunity to contest the elections.
Criticising Kumar, Mudhusudhana said, “And the Speaker had acted as a Congress party leader. And I think this is a big lesson to Kumar. Though you are Speaker, a Constitutional body, if you act out of the Constitution you will be tamed.”
Ramesh Babu of Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) lauded the Supreme Court for upholding the Constitution and the Parliamentary system.
“So the Supreme Court had upheld the Speaker’s decision apart from the provision to allow the disqualified legislators to contest again,” Babu told IANS.
According to Babu, the apex court’s judgement will strengthen the whip power of political parties.
“The Supreme Court has upheld the Xth schedule,” said Babu about the part of Indian Constitution which deals with the act of defection by lawmakers.
Former Congress chief minister and opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah tweeted that the Supreme Court judgement exposes the moral bankruptcy of the BJP leaders and the disqualified legislators.
“Operation Kamala is a proven act and there is nothing more shameful than this,” tweeted Siddaramaiah welcoming the apex court’s verdict.
The by-elections have been necessitated due to the disqualification of the 14 Congress and three Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rebel legislators after they resigned from their respective assembly seats in July in protest against the former coalition government’s functioning.
The by-elections will be held in Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapura, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijaynagara, Chickballapura, K.R. Pura, Yeshwanthpura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagara, Hosakote, K.R. Pete and Hunsur.
(with inputs from ANI and IANS)
