Bengaluru, Nov 21 (DHNS): The Congress on Friday decided to submit a petition to Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa seeking to move a motion to remove Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao.

Making an announcement in the Legislative Assembly, Thimmappa said the Congress’ petition will be clubbed with similar petitions already submitted by the BJP and the JD(S) and will be taken up in the House on Monday.

BJP, JD(S) stand

In their petitions submitted to the Speaker on Tuesday, the BJP and the JD(S) contended that the present Lokayukta should be removed on the grounds of “misconduct” and “incompetence”.

As per the agenda, the Speaker was to admit the petitions on Friday after taking the consent of the House. However, with the Congress also deciding to submit a petition, the matter has been posted for Monday.

Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar welcomed the Congress’ move, but said that the party should have signed the petition along with the Opposition members.

“Why is the government suddenly waking up now? Is it just for the sake of the people who are blaming the government for not taking any initiative to curb corruption in the institution of the Lokayukta,” C T Ravi (BJP) sought to know.

Law Minister T B Jayachandra said the government had never opposed the petitions filed by the BJP and the JD(S) and was always in favour of a clean and transparent Lokayukta institution.

Once the Speaker allows the motion under the provisions of the Karnataka Lokayukta (Amendment) Act 2015, then the petition will be referred to the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court for conducting an investigation into the grounds on which the removal of the Lokayukta is sought by the legislators.

Justice Rao will be precluded from discharging his duties during the pendency of the motion.