Karnataka Speaker disqualifies 13 more rebel MLAs before trust vote
Hyderabad, Jul 28 (IBNS): Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Sunday disqualified 14 more rebel MLAs, 11 of whom belonged to the Congress party and three others from HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal-Secular.
This comes just a day ahead of the trust vote in Karnataka Assembly where newly appointed Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongman BS Yediyurappa will prove his government's majority.
Yeddyurappa last Friday staked claim three days after the Congress-Janata Dal Secular (JDS) government failed to win the trust vote in the Vadhan Soudha, getting only 99 votes as opposed to BJP's 105.
The trust vote was called by JDS leader and then Karnataka Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy, amid the political turmoil over several Congress-JDS MLAs' resignations.
Earlier on Thursday, the Speaker had disqualified three rebel lawmakers.
The disqualification of MLAs means they won't be able to contest any elections till 2023, when the next state polls will take place.
With 16 disqualifications, the strength of the House has come down to 208 and the majority mark is now 105 - a number the BJP currently holds.
