17 Karnataka rebel lawmakers will not contest by-elections by 2023

Bangalore, Ta. July 28, 2019, Sunday

Legislative Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar has disqualified Congress and JDS rebel MLAs till the expiry of the current legislative session. Following the chairman's decision, the rebel MLAs will no longer be able to contest by-elections till the current term. The decision of the Assembly Speaker has shocked the rebel MLAs and the BJP.

Rebels can challenge this decision in the Supreme Court. However, the president's decision has benefited the BJP indirectly. Now for the BJP, these legislators will be spared from following the alleged promise of inclusion in their cabinet and giving the cabinet. Earlier, there was speculation that the BJP had promised the rebel MLAs a ministerial position in return for the downfall of Kumaraswamy's government.

If the Supreme Court does not reject the decision of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the BJP will enjoy power with a majority in the Legislative Assembly till the results of the by-elections on the 8 seats of the rebel legislators in the state. The JDS and the Congress currently hold 3 MLAs with the Speaker. If the BJP succeeds in winning 5 seats in the by-elections of the four seats, it will be possible for a stable government in the state if it can reach the sixth majority in the assembly.

The Congress has welcomed the Speaker's move, despite the BJP questioning the president's decision and calling it a non-democratic step. Congress said that greedy rebel legislators must be punished for their unconstitutional act. Legal experts believe that the current case in Karnataka shows the holes in the anti-immigration law and that the matter should be resolved by the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court.