The Supreme Court today announced its decision on the 17 Karnataka rebel MLAs whose revolt led to the collapse of the Janata Dal Secular-Congress coalition government and the subsequent takeover of the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government. The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the former Assembly Speaker to disqualify the Karnataka MLAs. However, the Speaker's decision to bar the MLAs from contesting elections till 2023 was quashed by the Supreme Court.
The judgement will likely have a bearing on the bypolls for 15 of the 17 vacant assembly seats and the current BJP government in Karnataka.
Fourteen of the rebel MLAs of the Congress and three of the JDS were disqualified under the anti-defection law by the Speaker in July.
Here are the LIVE updates over the Supreme Court decision on rebel Karnataka MLAs:
After the Supreme Court on Wednesday paved the way for the 17 disqualified Congress-JDS MLAs to contest the December 5 bypolls for 15 seats in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister Ashwathnarayan CN said they will be joining the BJP on November 14.
BJP President Amit Shah held a closed door meeting in the national capital soon after the Supreme Court upheld the disqualification of 17 rebel Karnataka MLA but allowed them to contest elections.
"I welcome the #SupremeCourt verdict. The hand of BJP in toppling the coalition govt is now clear. The involvement of @BSYBJP & @AmitShah is now proved. If BJP has any morality left, they should not give tickets to these disqualified MLA's to contest," he tweeted.
I welcome the #SupremeCourt verdict.
- Dinesh Gundu Rao (@dineshgrao) November 13, 2019
The hand of BJP in toppling the coalition govt is now clear.
The involvement of @BSYBJP & @AmitShah is now proved.
If BJP has any morality left, they should not give tickets to these disqualified MLA's to contest.
The disqualification of 17 Karnataka MLAs whose revolt triggered the collapse of the Janata Dal Secular-Congress government and the takeover by the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP will stand, the Supreme Court said today. But the court has cancelled the Speaker's decision to bar the rebel MLAs from contesting polls till 2023.
A decision on 17 Karnataka MLAs whose revolt triggered the collapse of the Janata Dal Secular-Congress government and the takeover by the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP is expected in the Supreme Court today. The court will decide whether the then Speaker's decision to disqualify the rebels and bar them from contesting elections during the term of the current Karnataka assembly should stand. The judgment could have a bearing on the BJP government and also the December by-polls to 15 of 17 vacant seats in the assembly.
Justice NV Ramanna has written the judgement.