SC to decide fate of rebel Cong-JD(S) MLAs

The Supreme Court on Friday directed Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar not to take any decision on the disqualification or resignation of 10 rebel MLAs till July 16.

Earlier, the apex court asked the rebel MLAs to meet Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and ordered the Speaker to decide the resignations by midnight. However, the Speaker's counsel requested the court that he needs more time to check the resignation letters.

Speaker KR Ramesh had examined 11 rebel MLAs resignations. After examining the resignations, the Speaker had found that 8 letters were not in proper order. His office thus returned their resignations and asked the MLAs to send them in the prescribed form if they still wanted to resign. The rebel MLAs, however, demanded the Speaker should face contempt action as he failed to comply with the Supreme Court's order.

The week-long political crackdown in Karnataka has totally gripped the entire state in its bucket. The 16 rebel MLAs from the Congress-JD(S) have tendered their resignations to the Speaker. If resignations are accepted, the HD Kumaraswamy-led government may fail to clear majority in the state Assembly. The government will have to win a trust vote which is impossible in the present environment.