The 15 rebel MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka have been told by the Supreme Court today to meet the Assembly Speaker and submit their resignations. The Speaker has been directed to decide on the matter today itself.
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Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that the rebel MLAs from Karnataka did not wish to defect but contest polls again for reelection. The SC bench was comprised of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose. Furthermore, the DGP of Bengaluru Police was directed to provide all necessary security to the MLAs. Further hearing in the matter will resume tomorrow.
The Karnataka government has been teetering on the brink of collapse ever since the resignation saga by rebel MLAs began. While DK Shivakumar initially insisted that no one was going to resign, he had to travel all the way to Mumbai to meet the disgruntled MLAs. However, the MLAs claimed that they felt threatened and consequently, Shivakumar was prevented from meeting them by the Police.
The alliance, as has become the norm, accused the BJP of buying its MLAs. With the rebel MLAs expected to meet the Speaker at 6 p.m. today, it remains to be seen whether HD Kumaraswamy is still sitting on the chair of Chief Minister when the dust has finally settled.