Karnataka Political Crisis: Karnataka speaker KR Ramesh Kumar addresses media
The ten rebel Karnataka lawmakers, with heavy police protection, reached the state assembly to meet the Speaker and confirm their resignations. The resignations will leave the ruling Congress-JDS coalition in minority.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered the lawmakers to meet Speaker Ramesh Kumar at 6pm. The speaker will be conveying his decision to the top court today.
The rebel lawmakers had gone to the court alleging the Speaker had not accepted their resignation letters in order to help save the Karnataka government and give its negotiators time to regain numbers.
The speaker also said there was no need for the lawmakers to involve the court. "They could have willingly come here. That itself shows the whole thing is murky".
The Speaker claims he was not in office when the resignation letters came in on Saturday. After examining them on Tuesday, Mr Kumar rejected eight, asking the lawmakers to meet him on July 17.
Here are the highlights on the Karnataka crisis:
"Congress-JDS Coalition Going Strong," tweets Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy
"Congress -JDS coalition in the state is going strong despite the efforts to destabilize. We are confident and prepared for a smooth and fruitful conduct of legislative sessions," tweeted Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
"All signs of a fascist rule," tweets Congress's G Parameshwara
"I'm confident the resignations will be carefully examined by the Speaker. We abide by the law & believe in our Constitution. It is alarming that BJP's deplorable attempts to topple our government is supported by its national leaders. All signs of a fascist rule," tweeted Congress's G Parameshwara.
"Can't Work At Lightning Speed": Karnataka Speaker On Meeting RebelsTen rebel Karnataka lawmakers, heavily protected by policemen, briskly walked to the Speaker's chamber in the state assembly Vidhana Souda on Thursday holding blank papers and rewrote their resignation which, if accepted, will leave the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in a minority.
"MLAs have submitted resignation in right format now," Karnataka speaker: news agency PTI
"MLAs have submitted resignation in right format now," Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI
"Will have to examine whether resignations are voluntary and genuine," says Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar
"I will have to examine whether resignations are voluntary and genuine," Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
"I have videographed everything and I will send it to Supreme Court," says Karnataka Speaker
"The Supreme Court has asked me to take a decision. I have videographed everything and I will send it to the Supreme Court," said KR Ramesh Kumar, Karnataka speaker.
Karnataka Crisis: "They had time, they had special flights," says Karnataka Speaker
"They had time, they had special flights, they had the money -- So they went to Mumbai, they went to Delhi," the Karnataka speaker said.
Karnataka Crisis: "I have videographed the entire meeting. I will be sending this as proof," says Karnataka speaker
"I have videographed the entire meeting and I will be sending this as proof," says KR Ramesh Kumar, Karnataka Speaker.
Karnataka Political Crisis:"You will go to Mumbai, do press meets. You will go to Delhi, come back with police protection": Karnataka speaker hits out at rebel lawmakers
"You guys will go to Mumbai and do press meets. You guys will go to Delhi and come back with heavy police protection," says KR Ramesh Kumar, Karnataka Speaker
Karnataka Crisis: "All this made it seem like I was a bad person," says Karnataka speaker
"To meet me- their own speaker- they had to go to the court. Is this fair? Who kept them? They never came to me with any of this. They went to Mumbai - from there the Supeme Court - they did not come to me. All this made it seem like I was the bad person," said Karnataka speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.
"I am 70 and I don't have to believe that I will live for 70 years. I want to live peacefully. I have no obligations. My only obligations are to the state. Please let me die in peace," said Karnataka speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.
Karnataka Political Crisis: "Cannot expect me to work in lightning speed," says Karnataka speaker
"You cannot expect me to work in lightning speed. I have to go through the procedure as per constitution," says Karnataka speaker.
Karnataka Crisis: "I was in my chamber till 1.30 pm. MLAs came at 2 pm without prior appointment," says Karnataka Speaker
"On July 6, I was in my chamber till 1.30 pm. The MLAs came there at 2 pm, they didn't even take prior appointment. So, it's untrue that I ran away because they were coming," KR Ramesh Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.
Karnataka Crisis: "Felt hurt when I saw news that I am delaying the process," says Karnataka speaker on rebel lawmakers' resignations
"I felt hurt when I saw some news that I am delaying the process. Governor informed me on 6th. I was in office till then and later I left for personal work. Before that no MLAs informed that they were coming to meet me," Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Karnataka Political Crisis: "They cannot say that I left after getting news. I did not know before," says Karnataka speaker
"They cannot say that I left after getting the news. I did not know before," said Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar.
Karnataka Crisis: "They never gave me prior notification," says Karnataka Speaker on rebel lawmakers
The rebel lawmakers have submitted their resignations. They submitted them on the 6th. I was unavailable for personal reasons. They came at 2.30 pm but never gave me prior notification to meet, speaker Ramesh Kumar told the media in Kannada.
Karnataka Crisis: Karnataka speaker addressed the media
"It is not my duty to say who will leave and who will stay," says Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar.
Karnataka Crisis: Karnataka rebel lawmakers wrote their resignation letters in front of the assembly speaker
Karnataka's rebel lawmakers have written their resignation letters in front of the assembly speaker: local media
Karnataka Crisis: BJP alleges Karnataka minister took "nearly Rs 500 crore" bribes to promote officers: news agency ANI
In a letter addressed to the Karnataka Governor, the BJP alleged minister HD Revanna took bribes amounting to "nearly Rs 500 crore" to promote or transfer officers between July 1 and July 10.
"PWD Minister HD Revanna has directed the additional chief secretary to PWD Sri Krishna Reddy to promote about 800 engineer officers in PWD, Irrigation, RDPR department and issue posting to their choice especially those belong to Gowda community by descending and accepting huge and large amount bribes involving about 50 crores in one day," the letter read, reported news agency ANI.
Calling Mr Revanna a de-facto Chief Minister, the BJP said that he was issuing "illegal promotions" and transfers for all departments, demanding crores of bribes.
Rebel lawmakers go inside the Karnataka Speaker's room.
Congress Chief whip in assembly Ganesh Hukkeri issues whip to party legislators to attend tomorrow's session to pass the finance bill and other matters, failing which absentees will be disqualified under the anti-defection law, according to news agency ANI.
Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar says: "I am a citizen of this country, and a all of us respect the Supreme Court... I am duty-bound to meet the rebel lawmakers. Can't say whether any decision will be taken today or not."
Karnataka Speaker Reaches Assembly
The Speaker, Ramesh Kumar, has reached the assembly and will meet the rebel lawmakers shortly. Ten Karnataka lawmakers who allege their resignations haven't been accepted in an attempt to help the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in the state flew to Bengaluru this evening after the Supreme Court ordered them to meet the Speaker.
The top court has ordered police protection for the rebel lawmakers and said the Speaker must decide today on whether the resignations stand.
See Here: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Congress's DK Shivakumar inspect security at Vidhana Soudha: news agency ANI
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Congress leader DK Shivakumar and others inspect security arrangement at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, reported news agency ANI.
The rebel MLAs have been directed by the Supreme Court to meet Karnataka assembly speaker at 6 pm today & resubmit their resignations.
Karnataka Crisis: Karnataka Rebel lawmakers, in Mumbai, fly back to Bengaluru
Sixteen Karnataka rebel MLAs staying at a luxury hotel in Mumbai flew back to Bengaluru Thursday afternoon to meet the Assembly Speaker, according to a PTI report, quoting sources.
The legislators boarded a special flight to the Karnataka capital at 2.50 pm, the sources said.
The development came after the Supreme Court allowed the rebel MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka to meet the Speaker at 6 pm to convey to him their decision to resign.
Rebel Congress lawmakers reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Sonia, Rahul Gandhi Join Protests After Karnataka, Goa Congress Meltdown
Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi today joined a Congress protest at parliament a day after the party lost most of its lawmakers to the ruling BJP in Goa and came closer than ever to losing power in Karnataka following several resignations.
Congress lawmakers shouted slogans, holding up placards of "Save Democracy", accusing the BJP of "killing democracy" by luring away opposition lawmakers in various states.
"Instead of focusing on development and other issues, the BJP is disrupting work wherever there are elected governments and trying to finish off democracy," said Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi.
Appear Before Speaker At 6 pm: Top Court To 10 Rebel Karnataka Lawmakers
Supreme Court asks 10 rebel Congress-JDS MLAs of Karnataka "to meet the Karnataka Assembly Speaker at 6pm today and submit their resignations "if they so wish."
The court also ordered the DGP of Karnataka to provide protection to all the rebel MLAs.
The Supreme Court says Karnataka Speaker has to take a decision in remaining part the day. The Court also ordered the DGP of Karnataka to provide protection to all the rebel MLAs and adjourned the hearing for tomorrow
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Ray has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over political situation in Karnataka and Goa, reports news agency ANI.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar has issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, restricting the gathering of more than five persons and any form of protests within the two-km area around the Vidhana Soudha.
The police commissioner issued the orders on Wednesday night, taking into account intelligence inputs.
The Congress has imploded in neighbouring Goa. Ten out of 15 Congress lawmakers have split from the party in Goa and have merged with the ruling BJP.
"10 Congress MLAs, along with their Opposition Leader, have merged with the BJP. The strength of the BJP has now risen to 27. They had come for development of the state and their constituency. They have not put forward any condition, they have joined BJP unconditionally," Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
Much of the party's failure has been blamed on infighting, which has intensified in states like Punjab and Rajasthan, where it is in power.
The Congress has been stumbling from crisis to crisis since its defeat in the national election, in which the party won just 52 seats across the country and was wiped out in 17 states.