11 BJP rebel MLAs served notice under anti-defection law

Acting on a complaint by chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on anti-party activities, Karnataka assembly speaker KG Bopaiah today served notices to 11 rebel BJP MLAs under the provisions of the anti-defection law.

The move was considered as a pressure tactic by the BJP to quell dissidence to save its totterring government.

Assembly secretary SB Patil served notice on 11 dissident MLAs, including minister for excise M P Renukacharya.

Patil said the MLAs on whom the notice has been issued have to meet the speaker before October 10 by five PM and tender their explanation, a day before Yeddyurappa would seek a confidence vote as per the instruction from the governor HR Bhardwaj.

The rebels are currently camping in a hotel in Goa.

The action by the speaker comes in the wake of 14 BJP MLAs submitting a letter to governor HR Bharadwaj on October six, informing their decision to withdraw support to the BJP government.

Those got the notice besides Renukacharya are: Belur Gopalakrishna, Balachandra Jarkiholi, Shivanagouda Naik, HS Shankaralinge Gowda, Y Sampangi, Anand Asnotikar, Sarbhouma Bagali, GN Nanjundaswamy, Baramgouda H Kage and MV Nagaraju. N