Karnataka crisis deepens, two more Congress MLAs resign

With the resignation of two more legislators - MTB Nagaraj and K Sudhakar - the number of rebels has gone up to 18. After resigning as MLA on Wednesday, Mr Nagaraj told reporters that he was fed up with politics and wished to retire from public life.

"I don't want any ministerial position or anything. I am fed up with politics," he said.

However, Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar is yet to accept their resignations. After examining the resignations of 13 lawmakers on Tuesday, the Speaker had declared that eight were not in order. He said in the case of the other legislators, the law would take its own course.

The rebel MLAs have approached the Supreme Court alleging the speaker has abandoned his constitutional duty and is deliberately delaying accepting their resignations. The apex court would hear the matter on Thursday.

Congress party’s troubleshooter D.K. Shivakumar tried desperately to meet rebel MLAs lodged at a Mumbai hotel. The rebels, however, refused to meet Shivakumar and sought police protection against him.

Mumbai police later arrested Shivakumar along with other party leaders including Milind Deora for "protesting outside the hotel". They were later released.

On the other hand, BJP leaders met Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhawan and sought his intervention for a floor test in the Assembly as Kumaraswamy government has been reduced to minority.

The Kumaraswamy-led Karnataka government plunged into crisis following a spate resignations by both Congress and JD(S) MLAs.

The BJP, which will have a majority if the resignations are accepted, has launched protests and demanded that the coalition government be sacked as it has lost its majority.

The political situation in Karnataka continued to disrupt proceedings in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The House witnessed repeated adjournments as Congress members protested over the issue. Congress leader Anand Sharma accused the BJP of destabilising Congress-JDS government in Karnataka.

Responding to it, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi rejected the allegation and said Central government has nothing to do with it.

In Lok Sabha as well, Congress members created ruckus over the issue and trooped into the well raising slogans. Members from DMK, SP, NCP, and others were also on their feet. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhary reiterated his accusation against the government of horse trading.

Responding to it, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said the rebel MLAs had written to Mumbai police that they were facing threat from Shivakumar. He that Congress is accusing the Centre because it is unable to manage its house.