Allow us to contest bypolls or stay elections: Disqualified MLAs to tell SC

coastaldigest.com news network

September 22, 2019

Bengaluru, Sept 22: After the Karnataka State Election Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar declared that the 17 disqualified MLAs, who had earlier resigned from the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) leading to the collapse of the coalition government, will not be allowed to contest in the upcoming by-polls, the helpless MLAs have decided to seek SC permission to contest bypolls.

The Supreme Court is yet to take up petitions of disqualified MLAs against then-Karnataka Assembly Speaker's decision that rejected their resignations and debarred them from contesting elections in the current term of the Assembly.

A three-judge bench presided by Justice N V Ramana would take up as many as nine separate petitions by 17 disqualified MLAs from the Congress and the JDS.

According to the lawyers connected to the matter, the former legislators are going to seek either permission to contest the by-polls or stay the elections scheduled on October 21 in their constituencies.

As the courts normally desist from staying the elections once announced by the Election Commission, the disqualified MLAs in all likelihood are going to press for a direction to allow them to fight the bypolls, pending the top court's decision on their plea against the Speaker's orders.

The disqualified MLAs are running against time and any delay would mar their prospects to be legislators again in the current term.

State Congress president and JDS leaders who have been made respondents in the disqualified MLAs petitions in all probability would oppose the prayers since granting any such interim relief would come as a major victory for those whose dissidence led to the downfall of the coalition government.

The state government led by B S Yediyurappa would also be keenly watching the development. The bypolls would hold the key for its continuance.

On the last date of hearing, Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar, who hails from the Karnataka, had recused from the hearing the case.

The EC had on Saturday announced the bypolls in 15 out of 17 constituencies. In two constituencies, Raja Rajeshwari Nagar and Maski, elections petitions are pending in the Karnataka High Court.

Seventeen MLAs -- 14 from the Congress and three from the JDS, had faced actions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and stood disqualified by the Speaker on petitions filed their party leaders.

In their plea before the top court, they challenged the validity of the then Speaker's order that rejected their resignations and declared them as ineligible to be legislators again during the term of the 15th Karnataka Legislative Assembly. They called the orders passed by then Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar as "wholly illegal, arbitrary and mala fide".

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GADDAR MLA of karnataka...they will go to any level to get the power...even sell there family also.

we are kannadiga,, our hero was tippu sultan...we dont want Hijda people in karnataka..kick them out

It is good that they r disqualified. Theynshould not be allowed to contest elections for whole life. It is a good lesson for greedy politicians.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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