Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 25: The fact that BJP did not fare well in the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana has given rise to worry in the minds of disqualified legislators who were hopeful of getting favourable verdict from the Supreme Court and then fighting the bypoll and riding to victory on BJP wave. The information that a number of people who crossed over to other parties and then fought the election were dumped by the electorate has further dampened their spirits.

Till recently, it was widely believed that anyone fighting with lotus symbol can win elections by riding on Modi wave. But the current result has given rise to tension among the MLAs who resigned.

Disqualified MLAs (File photo)

These leaders have earned the ire of the leaderships of the Congress and the JD(S) and therefore these parties are raring to defeat the party hoppers. They also lost their memberships of assembly. The cases filed by them against the speaker's decision are languishing in court since the last about three months. They were hoping to reach a logical conclusion soon and secure victory on BJP ticket. But the result of the two states have naturally shaken them. Moreover, these legislators have noted that some people who changed loyalties have been shown the door by the people.

These MLAs strongly believed that their victory would be made easier as BJP is in power both in the state and at the centre. But in Haryana and Maharashtra too BJP governments were in existence but the support to the BJP has not been to the expected level. It is said that the MLAs are now thinking of undertaking study as to whether the election result was reflection on the performance of the state government or whether it is anti-incumbency factor against the central government.

The thought about the chances of their very political existence getting decimated has come as a shocker to these legislators, it is learnt. It may also be noted that the information of Appi Patil, fielded by his father-in-law and rebel MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, getting defeated in Maharashtra has also come as a worrying information for these legislators.

Speaker expresses to SC preparedness to listen to disqualified MLAs

The current Karnataka assembly speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, informed the Supreme Court (SC) that he is prepared to lend an ear to the pleas of the 17 MLAs disqualified by the then speaker, Ramesh Kumar.

During the hearing over petitions filed by the disqualified legislators who have challenged the speaker's decision, solicitor general of India, Tushar Mehta, who appeared in the SC on behalf of the assembly speaker of Karnataka, gave this information to a three-judge bench headed by Justice N V Ramana.

Advocate representing former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, alleged that the legislators from the Congress and the JD(S) who had resigned were a part of the conspiracy to cause downfall of the then government, and wondered how could the speaker not consider this aspect when passing orders. However, advocates representing the petitioners argued that as per rules, when processing resignations, purposes behind them cannot be questioned.

The hearing in this case has again been adjourned by a day to Friday. As more arguments are expected to be placed, passing of orders on Friday appears to be a remote possibility.