Only MLAs who have no work will quit, says speaker Ramesh Kumar

Bengaluru, Jul 5: Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar took a dim view of legislators resigning from the state assembly at the drop of a hat, remarking that “only those who have no workwill quitting”.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Kumar indicated Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi had not resigned and that only Anand Singh had quit. “I have been in my chamber, but no MLA has come [to see me] so far,” Kumar said.

Asked to comment on rumours that more MLAs would resign, Kumar said, “This [resigning] is not something which people with respect will do. Besides, there should be no suspicion or secrecy about these resignations. Those who do it are making it commercial. Such people should be in business not in administration.”

Earlier this week, Kumar had taken exception to Jarkiholi faxing his resignation letter. “I am not in the fax department to take Jarkiholi’s resignation letter,” he had said. “No one can show attitude here. This is legislative assembly and we cannot behave like cattle. I will go strictly by the rule.”

On another note, Kumar said he was unhappy with the state government for not constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the audio tape incident. He said he would raise the issue at an appropriate forum. “As speaker, I am bound by certain rules and decorum,” he said. “I will speak about audiogate at an appropriate forum.”

During the budget session, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had announced an SIT would be set up to investigate contents of an audio tape in which state BJP president BS Yeddyurappa and his party men are heard purportedly offering money to the son of a JD(S) MLA to get his father resign and join the BJP. A person who was party to the conversation had even said they had “booked the speaker” to accept resignations without any hassle.