Siddaramaiah welcomes Supreme Court decision on 16 MLAs

Opposition Congress Leader in the Karnataka assembly Siddaramaiah today said the Supreme Court has done justice to 16 MLAs, whom the state assembly speaker had disqualified "unconstitutionally".

The apex court today quashed the speaker's decision to disqualify 16 MLAs ahead of the no-confidence motion last year which had ensured survival of the Yeddyurappa government.

"The injustice meted out to five independents and 11 BJP MLAs has been rectified by the Supreme Court. These MLAs were disqualified to save the Yeddyurappa government. Otherwise, the BJP government would have collapsed in October last year," Siddaramaiah told PTI here.

"While rejecting the petition by five Independents on October 13, on the eve of the second trust vote taken by Yeddyurappa, for interim prayers to permit them to vote in the floor test, the high court had subjected the outcome to its verdict. Now the Supreme Court has given the verdict. Let us see what is going to happen," he said.

BJP government's survival vis-a-vis its continuance now hinges on the decision of the 11 BJP rebel MLAs, he said. "However, the five independents can take whatever decision they want", he said.

Asked whether the Congress will seek intervention of governor HR Bhardwaj in the light of the fresh development, Siddaramaiah said he would consult KPCC President G Parameshwara and other leaders.

The Yeddyurappa government has now been reduced to a minority in the 224-member assembly as it commands a strength of only 109 members including speaker KG Bopaiah.

The Congress has 71 and JD(S) 26. The BJP also has the support of the lone Independent Varthur Prakash.

Sixteen MLAs whose disqualification was set aside by the Supreme Court will decide the government's fate. The house has one vacancy caused by resignation of assembly membership by JD(S) member Karadi Sanganna (Koppal constituency).