From Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 13: As the short budget session of the Karnataka Legislature is coming to an end without any discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address or on the State’s budget for the year 2019-20, the four Congress `rebel’ legislators attended the session on Wednesday even as the opposition BJP continued their dharna in the House opposing the move to order a probe into the controversial audio tape pertaining to Operation Kamala.

However, the ruling JD(S) and Congress parties went ahead with taking up as many as eight legislative bills for discussion and passed them without any debate amid the opposition dharna.

The Opposition BJP members continued their dharna against the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the controversial audio clip purportedly claiming that the Legislative Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar had been “booked” for Rs 50 crore for accepting the resignations of dissident legislators of ruling parties.

However, no decision on the SIT probe was taken and Speaker Ramesh Kumar has convened a meeting of the floor leaders of all parties in the morning on Thursday in a possible last bid to break the deadlock and come to a decision.

The four Congress MLAs, facing the disqualification for defying the party whip and for skipping legislature party meetings and legislature session, on Wednesday attended the session.

The Congress party already submitted a petition to the Speaker seeking disqualification of rebel lawmakers under the Anti-Defection law.

The rebel legislators - Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh Jadhav, B Nagendra and Mahesh Kumatalli - have decided to support the Financial Bill for avoiding the disqualification.

Four Congress rebel legislators and one JD(S) MLA, who are said to be holed up in Mumbai for more than a week, returned to the City on Tuesday night.

Umesh Jadhav (Chincholi), who also returned said that he had explained his absence to the party leaders.

"It is true that I have some issues in my constituency. My leader is Siddaramaiah and I will sort them out by meeting him. While I am not a ministerial aspirant, my constituents want me to see as minister," he claimed.

He said: “I am not quitting the Congress and will remain in the party. I have come back today as the finance bill will be put to vote today.”

Meanwhile, the ruling JD(S) and Congress are firm on conducting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the controversial audio clip episode.

The Opposition BJP staged a dharna in the Assembly asking the government to reconsider its decision and instead order a judicial probe or refer the issue to the privilege committee of the house.

Opposing the SIT probe, Leader of the Opposition B S Yeddyurappa demanded a probe either by the House Committee or a High Court judge into audio clip episode.

Before commencement of the session, Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar convened a meeting between leaders of Opposition and ruling parties to bring about a consensus on what kind of probe should be ordered into the controversial audio clip episode.

However, the talks failed as both parties continued to stick to their respective positions. Yet another attempt is likely to be made on Thursday.