Former chief minister and CLP chief Siddaramaiah said that he will ask assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar to take action against the missing MLAs — Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh Jadhav, Mahesh Kumathali and B Nagendra — under the Anti-Defection Law.
After days of continued drama, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Karnataka on Friday initiated action against the four rebel party MLAs who have been missing since January.
Former chief minister and CLP chief Siddaramaiah said that he will ask assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar to take action against the missing MLAs — Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh Jadhav, Mahesh Kumathali and B Nagendra — under the Anti-Defection Law. "It is the unanimous decision of the CLP that I should go ahead with further action against them under the Anti-Defection Law," Siddaramaiah said.
He added that two more lawmakers, Roshan Baig and BC Patil, who too were missing during the state Budget session had intimated him earlier of their absence. In addition, MLA JN Ganesh has been absconding after he assaulted fellow lawmaker Anand Singh while Congress MLAs were putting up at Bengaluru's Eagleton Resort following fears of horse-trading. He added that ample time had been granted to the MLAs since the CLP met on January 18 as a show of strength.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy released an explosive tape where state BJP unit chief BS Yedyurappa was purportedly heard asking Sharan, the son of JD(S) lawmaker Naganagouda, to come join the BJP. In the clip, Yedyurappa is allegedly offering money and ministerial berth, besides assuring him about "taking care" of the assembly Speaker and the judges in case of the Anti-Defection Law being invoked.
"Without the knowledge of the prime minister, is it possible to do this," asked Kumaraswamy in an press conference in Bengaluru. He added that he would send the audio clips to PM Modi who. "Come out with your real face if you are the saviour of the country," Kumaraswamy said.
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