Karnataka: SC permits rebel MLAs to tender resignations again today

Asks Speaker to decide on resignations today itself; orders DGP to ensure security

Dissident MLAs from JD(S) and Congress leave Raj Bhavan after meeting with Karnataka Governor Vajuibhai Vala, in Bengaluru | PTI [File] Dissident MLAs from JD(S) and Congress leave Raj Bhavan after meeting with Karnataka Governor Vajuibhai Vala, in Bengaluru | PTI

The Supreme Court has permitted the 10 rebel MLAs in Karnataka to appear before the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly at 6 pm on Thursday to tender their resignations again. Hearing the petition submitted by the rebels against the delay in accepting their resignations, the apex court also asked the speaker to decide on the same today itself. 

The Supreme Court also ordered Karnataka DGP to provide adequate security to the rebel MLAs, who will be appearing before the speaker to submit their on Thursday. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Friday. All the rebel MLAs are currently lodged at Mumbai.

The interim order was passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice Gogoi, Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose. Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared on behalf of the rebel MLAs in Karnataka, said, "We are now 15 MLAs who want to resign but no formal acceptance by the Speaker. Idea is not to defect, but resign so that we can go back to public and contest."

The rebel MLAs moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking a direction to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar to accept their resignations and stop threatening them with disqualification. 

Twelve MLAs—seven of the Congress, three of the JD(S) and two Independents—have been staying at a hotel in Mumbai since Saturday after resigning from the Karnataka Assembly and withdrawing support to the coalition government. 

Two more Congress MLAs in Karnataka resigned on Wednesday, deepening the crisis in the state over the future of the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government. 

The ruling coalition faces the threat of losing its majority if the resignations of the rebel MLAs are accepted. The coalition's total strength is 116 (Congress-78, JD(S)-37 and BSP-1), besides the speaker.

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