Twelve rebel MLAs — seven of Congress, three of JD(S) and two Independents — are in a hotel in Mumbai. They have been at the hotel since Saturday, after resigning from the membership of the assembly and withdrawing support to the state’s coalition government.
Karnataka Water Resources Minister and Congress' troubleshooter D.K. Shivakumar has been camping outside the Mumbai hotel to meet the rebel MLAs.
Here are the updates:
Being made to leave Mumbai unwillingly: D.K. Shivakumar
Minister D.K. Shivkumar's press interaction, scheduled for 7.30 p.m., has been cancelled as Mr. Shivkumar has been compelled to leave the city. He is likely to depart by 8:30 p.m.
Before being taken to the airport, Mr. Shivkumar told the media that he is leaving unwillingly, under pressure.
"I didn't want to leave but going back under pressure. No more MLAs will resign, I am confident the government will stand and the MLAs will come back soon," he said.
Now, MP Tejasvi Surya demands NRC in Karnataka
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Wednesday urged the Union government to extend the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to Karnataka as, he alleged, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh had become a security threat to Bengaluru and the entire State.
At present, the NRC, a register containing the genuine names of Indian citizens , is being implemented only in Assam under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
The Mumbai Police has released all detained Congress leaders including Karnataka Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Sources said the police is taking Mr. Shivakumar directly to the Mumbai airport and he is forcibly being sent to Bengaluru.
High drama in Vidhana Soudha following two more resignations
The resignations of two more Congress MLAs — M.T.B. Nagaraj and K. Sudhakar — was followed by a high drama in the third floor of State Secretariat.
Police escorting K. Sudhakar out of State Secretariat
Soon after the MLAs submitted their resignations to the Speaker, some Congress leaders took away Mr. Sudhakar into Minister K.J. George's room in an apparent effort to woo him back into the partyfold.
Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge and KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao were among those who closeted with him. Soon after, former chief minister Siddaramaiah too entered the scene.
Mr. Nagaraj had left the place by then.
Meanwhile, the BJP protested the “manhandling of an MLA" in the corridors of power, without referring Mr. Sudhakar's name. Speaking to mediapersons, BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa called it “goondaism.”
Responding to the allegations, Minister U.T. Khadar said that the party leaders were only trying to speak to the leader and holding a discussion. "How does it amount to attack?" he asked.
Present situation worse than Emergency: Deve Gowda
Slamming the denial of entry to Mr. Shivakumar to a Mumbai hotel to meet rebel MLAs, former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda has said the situation was “worse than Emergency” and he had not seen anything like it in 60 years of public life.
Mr. Gowda also urged all political parties to come together, setting aside their differences, to “save democracy”, which, he alleged, was under threat.
“I feel that the present situation is worse than the Emergency. D K Shivakumar (Congress minister) went to the hotel but was denied entry despite having booked a room there... I have not seen anything like this in my 60 years of political life,” he said.
“All political parties should set aside their differences and come together to save democracy,” he added.
Mr. Gowda was speaking prior to a march taken out in Bengaluru by supporters of the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition towards Raj Bhavan to protest against BJP’s alleged attempts to topple the government.
Two more Congress legislators M.T.B. Nagaraj and K. Sudhakar submit resignation to Karnataka Assembly Speaker.
"We are outside the Kalina campus where our leaders are being detained. The police is not allowing us our democratic rights, our workers too have been beaten up during the lathi charge," an agitated Satyajeet Tambe, State president of Youth Congress told media persons.
Mr. Shivakumar, who was camping outside the Mumbai hotel where rebel MLAs are staying, was detained by Mumbai Police. Mumbai Congress leaders Milind Deora and Naseem Khan were also detained.
Rebel Karnataka Congress, JD(S) MLAs accuse govt of scams, maladministration
The battle for power in Karnataka reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday when 10 Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs jointly accused the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government of scams and maladministration, while blaming Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar of delaying the acceptance of their resignation in a bid to prolong the life of the ruling dispensation in the State.
The MLAs said they were fed up with the maladministration and inner contradictions within the Congress-JD(S) coalition. Their decision to resign was in consultation with their conscience. The Speaker’s ploy to retard their resignation process was anti-democratic and a violation of the basic structure of the Constitution.
Former Mumbai Congress Chief Milind Deora, Sanjay Nirupam interact with Karnataka Congress leader and State Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar outside the Mumbai hotel where the rebel MLAs have been staying, on Wednesday.
Mumbai Police have detained D.K. Shivakumar, Milind Deora, former Maharashtra minister Naseem Khan and other Congress workers for violating the prohibitory orders.
They have been taken to the Bandra Kurla Complex police station.
Mr. Shivakumar has been camping outside Mumbai's Hotel Renaissance since morning trying to meet the rebel MLAs.
Top Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal, Siddaramaiah and G. Parameshwara have started the “Raj Bhavan Chalo” rally. They are marching towards Raj Bhavan from Kumara Krupa.
When stopped from entering Raj Bhavan, Mr Siddaramaiah and Mr Venugopal along with several Congress workers staged a dharna on Raj Bhavan road.
Former Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora and party leader Sanjay Nirupam met D.K. SHivakumar who is staying outside the hotel where dissent MLAs from Karnataka are lodged.
"I am outside the hotel with DK Shiv Kumar and requesting MLAs to return to Karnataka. The BJP government has imposed sec 144 and misusing its power to play dirty politics," Mr. Deora said.
Section 144 imposed near Mumbai hotel
Mumbai Police on Wednesday imposed prohibitory orders near the hotel where the rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs from Karnataka are staying.
“We have invoked Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) Section 144 near the hotel,” a senior police official said.
Section 144 of the CrPC prohibits an assembly of more than four persons in an area.
Congress leader and Karnataka minister D K Shivakumar, however, stays put outside the hotel. - PTI
BJP delegation to meet Governor Vala, says Yeddyurappa
A high-level delegation of BJP leaders comprising State president B. S. Yeddyurappa and others, is set to meet Governor Vaju Bhai Vala seeking his intervention with respect to the ongoing episode of political uncertainty.
Mr. Yeddyurappa told the protesting party legislators in Bengaluru that the BJP delegation would try to convince the Governor that Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy has lost majority in the Assembly.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said some of the MLAs, who have submitted their resignations to the Assembly membership, have filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking that their resignations should be accepted at the earliest. The petition has been admitted, he added.
He appealed to Speaker Ramesh Kumar to act on resignations before the Supreme Court looks into the issue.
Former Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora speaks to Shivakumar
Former Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora says that he is in touch with Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
"I have spoken to DK Shivakumar ji and assured him that local Congress leaders and workers are available to lend any support," he says.
"I urge the Karnataka MLAs to return to Bengaluru and resolve the matter constitutionally. BJP is sponsoring this sabotage by misusing its power in Maharashtra," he adds.
BJP legislators begin dharna in Vidhana Soudha premises
BJP legislators protesting in front of Gandhi statue at the Vidhana Soudha, demanding the resignation of Chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on July 10, 2019.
The BJP legislators have commenced a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the premises of Vidhana Soudha, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy.
The protesters maintain that the Chief Mminister has lost moral right to continue in power in the wake of some of the ruling MLAs submitting resignations to their assembly membership. They argue that the coalition government has lost majority.
The BJP legislators and protesters have also taken exception to the delay by Speaker Ramesh Kumar in accepting resignations of rebel MLAs and are urging him to act at the earliest.
SC likely to hear rebel Karnataka MLAs’ plea
The Supreme Court is likely to hear 10 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs challenging Karnataka Assembly Speaker K. Ramesh Kumar’s delay in accepting their resignations.
The matter was orally mentioned for urgent hearing before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi on July 10.
Mr. Rohatgi submitted that the Speaker was not deliberately acting on their resignations. He sought a hearing today itself, if not tomorrow. “Time is of essence,” Mr. Rohatgi urged the court.
Will not budge: D.K. Shivakumar
Mr. Shivakumar reiterates that he has come to talk to them. "We are all family. Just because someone from the family is upset the left the house, will we let them go like that? We will speak to them and convince them."
He says he will stay put till he gets to meet them and will not leave. “Come let us sit and talk. All ministers have resigned. We will form a new cabinet. I believe in sharing and caring. Let us share. Let us care.
"Let it rain or let me drown. I will not budge. Will stay put here," he says.
"I don't have a weapon, I only have a heart," he adds.
MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, who has accompanied Minister D.K. Shivakumar to Mumbai, says he has confirmation that the MLAs have been shifted to another hotel through the back door.
“We have come here to talk to them. It is strange that in a democratic country we are stopped from entering a hotel where we have a room booking. It is all the game plan of the BJP," he says.
10 rebels seek police protection
The 10 MLAs from the ruling coalition have filed a complaint with Mumbai police, alleging that Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy and Congress leader D. K. Shivakumar are set to swarm into the hotel.
In their complaint filed before the police commissioner on Tuesday, they have sought police protection for the hotel in which they are staying.
Speaking from inside the hotel, MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi says that they do not wish to meet Mr. Shivakumar. He added that they were expecting four more MLAs to join them. "We are firm and four more will join us today," he says.
Another MLA ST Somashekhar says, "Friendship and politics are different. We will meet Mr Shivakumar later in Bengaluru but not today. We will not be able to see you in an embarrassing position. Please go back. You have played a vital role in moulding our political career."
Rebel MLA Basvaraj Byrathi said they are all friends but they do not want to speak to Mr. Shivakumar and others who have come to met them. "I request him to go back."
D.K. Shivakumar stopped from meeting 'rebel' MLAs in Mumbai hotel
Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar has been refused entry into the hotel in Mumbai, where the rebel ruling party MLAs have been staying since Saturday.
"I have come to meet my friends who I have been associated with for three to four decades. They are unhappy with us for some reason. It does not mean all is over," said Mr. Shivakumar.
Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar outside the Mumbai hotel where the rebel MLAs have been staying, on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.
BJP supporters, meanwhile, shouted slogans asking Mr. Shivakumar to go back.
Mr. Shivakumar is at Mumbai to convince the rebel MLAs to return to the party fold. The MLAs have submitted their resignations to the Speaker and moved to Mumbai, apparently at the behest of the BJP, threatening the stability of the Congress-JDS coalition government.
Congress seeks disqualification of rebel MLAs
In a stern message to rebel legislators of the party, the Congress on Tuesday submitted a petition to Legislative Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar seeking disqualification of all those who have resigned from the membership to the Assembly, except seven-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy, under the anti-defection law.
With the Speaker announcing that only five of the 13 resignations submitted are in order and others have to appear before him again, the party seems to have got a reprieve.
Sources in the party said they have decided not to act against Mr. Reddy, four-time Minister and MLA representing BTM Layout in Bengaluru, since he has not indulged in anti-party activities.
Congress leader Shivakumar arrives in Mumbai to meet rebel MLAs
Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar arrived in Mumbai Wednesday morning to make a last ditch attempt to pacify the rebel MLAs stationed here at a luxury hotel.
On his arrival, Shivakumar told reporters, “Let the Mumbai police or any other force be deployed. We have come to meet our friends. We are born together in politics and will die together.”
12 MLAs — seven of Congress, three of JD(S) and two Independents are in the city since Saturday after resigning from the membership of the assembly and withdrawing support to the state’s coalition government.
Late midnight, ten of the MLAs wrote to the police fearing threat to their lives and asked that Shivkumar be prevented from entering the hotel where they are put up. — PTI
BJP to seek Governor’s intervention
The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to seek Governor Vajubhai Vala’s intervention in the political uncertainty following resignations by 14 MLAs and withdrawal of support to the government by two Independent members.
A decision to this effect was taken at the BJP legislature party meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, BJP State general secretary Arvind Limbavali said a high-level delegation of the party would meet the Governor on Wednesday to seek his intervention and to convince him that the coalition government has lost majority.
BJP to stage dharna on July 10, demanding CM’s resignation
BJP in Karnataka has decided to stage a dharna in Bengaluru on July 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who it claimed, has lost majority after 14 MLAs of the ruling Congress-JD(S) quit.
The coalition has been rocked by the resignations of 14 MLAs — 11 of Congress and three of JD(S).
“I have held discussions with our legislators and we have decided to hold a protest in front of the Gandhi statue at 11 AM, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy who has lost majority,” party State unit Chief B.S. Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
The former Chief Minister has been holding a series of meetings with party leaders at his residence since morning on the ongoing political developments and BJP’s plan of action. — PTI
