Karnataka Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar’s move on the resignations and disqualification of rebel MLAs has kept the Bharatiya Janata Party on tenterhooks, pushing its top central leaders into consultative mode and putting the process of formation of its government in Karnataka on hold.
The Speaker, who is looking into the resignations of 16 rebel MLAs from the Janata Dal (S)–Congress coalition in the 225-member Assembly (including a nominated member), has disqualified three MLAs. The Speaker has sought some more time to decide on the resignations of 13 more MLAs as well as on the petitions seeking their disqualification.
This has continued uncertainty over political arithmetic for the BJP as the rebel MLAs technically continue to be the members of the rival camp. This would now mean that the total strength of the Assembly has reduced to 222 (including the nominated member) and technically, the BJP’s tally of 106, including the support of an Independent member, is way behind the new majority mark of 112. The BJP is particularly concerned as this development raises questions on whether it would be prudent on the part of the party to stake claims before the Governor to form the government and whether the Governor can indeed accept it, sources in the BJP said.
The second point of worry for the BJP is the possibility of the Speaker’s action of disqualifying three MLAs for the full term of the Assembly creating a “fear psychosis” among other rebels that similar fate may befall on them. The party fears that some of the rebels may wish to withdraw their resignations to escape from such harsh punishment.