Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP) 

Bengaluru, Jul 25: The future of 15 legislators from the Congress and the JD(S) who have tendered their resignations to the memberships of the state assembly, hangs in balance as the Speaker has to decide their fate. The MLAs, who have succeeded in making sure that the government topples, are now facing litmus test. 

The political equations of all the three parties in the state may vary depending on the stand assembly speaker, K R Ramesh Kumar, takes on disqualification of MLAs. Congress, 12 legislators of which crossed over to the other side, and the JD(S) which saw three of its MLAs changing sides, have requested the Speaker to disqualify these MLAs as they have violated the whip issued by their respective parties. 

BJP state chief Yeddyurappa

Even after whip was served, making it mandatory for these legislators to be present during the trust vote, they had ignored the same. Congress leaders, who have pointed out this to the Speaker, have filed another complaint. Congress party has also urged the Speaker to disqualify R Shankar, Karnataka Pragnyavantara Janata Party (KPJP) MLA, who had merged his party with the Congress, accepted the ministerial position, and then supported the BJP. The Congress leaders have also sought disqualification of Shrimant Patil, Kagwad MLA, who received the whip and then went to Mumbai where he got himself admitted into a hospital. 

In all likelihood, all the MLAs, who have resigned, may approach Supreme Court again if they are disqualified. The Speaker, who has already heard arguments from both the sides on the disqualification pleas, has reserved his ruling.