JD(S) suspends 8 rebel MLAs for cross-voting

JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda suspended eight rebel legislators on Sunday. Because they indulged in anti-party activities and voted for non-JD(S) candidates in the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha elections held on Friday and Saturday, respectively, in Karnataka. 

Gowda, a former prime minister, also issued a show-cause notice, asking the rebels why they should not be expelled from the JD(S) as per the party’s constitution. The MLAs have been given two weeks to reply, failing which the party may expel them. The suspension is not duration-specific, and can be continued or recalled anytime, sources said.

Deve Gowda made the announcement of the suspension at a party convention here. However, state president H D Kumaraswamy was absent at the meeting. 

The suspended MLAs are - B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, M B Rameshbabu Bandisiddegowda, Iqbal



Ansari, H C Balakrishna, K Gopalaiah, N Cheluvarayaswamy, Bhima Naik S and Akhanda Srinivasmurthy. 

These MLAs had voted for the Congress candidates in the elections to the Upper House. In the Council elections, five rebels claimed they indulged in cross-voting to help the Congress. In the Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress fielded K C Ramamurthy, banking on JD(S) rebels and independents, in addition to their own votes. He secured 52 votes.  Deve Gowda said a three-member disciplinary committee would be set up to look into the replies to the notice.  

The JD(S) cannot seek disqualification of the membership of the rebels for violating the party whip under the anti-defection law outside the floor of the legislature. Hence, the party is contemplating taking action under the said law to seize the Assembly membership of the eight legislators.