Bangalore: Five Independent MLAs (Ministers later on) who withdrew their support to CM Yeddyurappa on Oct.5 and were disqualified by speaker K.G Bopaiah last week, have challenged the order in Karnataka High Court. The Chief Justice Kehar, has referred the matter to a bench of 3 Judges, which then issued legal notice to the speaker. The matter is posted for hearing on Nov.8.
This development has resulted in a constitutional crisis, in which HC Judges were seeking speaker’s explanation for disqualifying 5 MLAs who also become Ministers till recently. The letter of withdrawing support to CM by these 5 MLAs is given to the governor, whereas disqualification by speaker brings him again before KHC. 11 MLAs (BJP) have been disqualified earlier and the speaker’s ruling was upheld by KHC by 2 to 1 recently.
It should also be noted here that a second confidence vote was won by BJP by 106 to 100, in a house of 206, last week, with disqualified 16 MLAs kept out.