Karnataka speaker to take six days to decide on Congress MLAs resignation 

KR Ramesh Kumar.

New Delhi: In a major relief to the Karnataka government, assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar has asked for more time to look into the resignations submitted by the 14 MLAs. The speaker said he needs at least six days to decide on resignation as he has to make conscious decision.

The resignation of suspended senior Congress leader R Roshan Baig has increased the total number of resignations up to 14. Out of 14 MLAs that have submitted the resignation, 11 belong to the Congress and remaining three are from JD(S).

“I have to make a conscious decision. Every step I take will become history, so I can’t be committing a mistake. Future generations should not look at me like I am an accused,” the speaker said.

“I need to be convinced that the registrations are voluntary and genuine. Therefore, I will consider the feelings of the general public, provisions of constitutions, the rule book and the spirit and interpretation of law,” he said further.

Ramesh Kumar has also revealed that only five of the 13 resignations submitted were in prescribed format. R Ramalinga Reddy, K Gopalaiah, Anand Singh, K Narayan Gowda and Pratap Gouda Patil have submitted the resignation in prescribed format. They have been asked to appear before him personally on July 12 and 15. The remaining eight MLAs need to resubmit their resignation, he clarified.

Meanwhile, the Congress, in its efforts to keep its flock together are making an attempt to pursue rebel MLAs to withdraw their resignation. D Shivkumar and JD(S) MLA KM Shivlinge Gowda are likely to go to Mumbai to meet the MLAs.

In the 224-member Karnataka house, if resignations of all 14 MLAs are accepted, the current government would be reduced to 102 seats where 113 legislators are required to form majority. Seeing the opportunity, the Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded resignation of chief minister HD Kumaraswamy citing he has “lost majority” in the house.

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