Disqualified can contest polls: SC

In a mixed verdict, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the disqualification of 17 Karnataka MLAs belonging to the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), but set aside then Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar’s order unseating them for the remainder of the current Assembly’s term, paving the way for them to contest the coming byelection to 17 seats.

After the court’s verdict, all eyes were on the BJP’s next move, on whether it would give tickets to the Congress-JD(S) rebels.

Karnataka deputy chief minister C.N. Ashwathnarayan said the disqualified MLAs would join the BJP on Thursday.

The Supreme Court has also said that if elected in the bypolls, the disqualified MLAs can become ministers or hold public office.

THE FORMER legislators led by Ramesh Jarkiholi rushed to the residence of BJP national organising secretary in Delhi and discussed with him the formalities of joining the party.

Hours after the Supreme Court gave its order allowing the disqualified MLAs to contest the December 5 byelections, the state BJP swung into action to induct all 17 into the party and brainstormed on fielding them as its candidates for the seats that have fallen vacant following their resignations in July.

The former legislators themselves, headed by Ramesh Jarkiholi rushed to the residence of BJP national organising secretary, B.L. Santhosh in Delhi, and discussed with him the formalities of joining the party and later left for Bengaluru where they will join the saffron party on Thursday.

Soon after the verdict, the BJP core committee held a meeting in Bengaluru on Wednesday and decided to induct all the disqualified MLAs into the party.

Although after a lengthy discussion, the meeting chaired by BJP state president, Nalin Kumar Kateel arrived at a consensus on giving tickets to them, there was some indecision on Athani, Ranebennur, and Shivajinagar constituencies. BJP senior leader and party core committee member, Aravind Limbavali said the disqualified MLAs would join the BJP Thursday morning and the party would take a decision on fielding them for the bypolls by Thursday evening.

“The disqualified MLAs met our national leaders in Delhi after the Supreme Court verdict and will join the BJP at its state office Thursday morning. The core committee has decided to induct all the MLAs into the party. But it has not yet taken a decision on giving tickets to all the MLAs for the bypolls. The party will announce its candidates for all 15 Assembly constituencies by Thursday evening," he added.