Disqualified MLAs will get BJP tickets if they want, says Yediyurappa

Disqualified Congress-JDS MLAs would be given BJP tickets for the bypolls if they wanted, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Monday, amid growing opposition in some quarters within the party against any such move. He said party president Amit Shah has said it was "our responsibility" to give tickets to the former MLAs.

The rebellion by the then MLAs had led to the fall of the Congress-JDS government in July paving the way for the BJP to come back to power in the southern state. Byelections to the constituencies held by them are slated in December. Yediyurappa tried to pacify ticket aspirants within the BJP and candidates defeated in the 2018 assembly polls, saying "opportunity" will be created for them in state-run boards and corporations.

READ: Rebel MLA hits back at Cong lauding EC's decision to defer bypolls

"By-elections are coming up, dates have been announced for 15 seats, Amit Shah has said that those who have resigned and want to contest from BJP, all of them will be given seats (tickets), it is our responsibility," he told reporters in his hometown of Shikaripura in Shimoga district. Aspirants and party candidates defeated in the 2018 assembly polls in segments including Hosakote, Hirekerur, Kagwad and Mahalakshmi Layout, have said tickets should be given to loyal party cadres who have worked to build BJP. Senior BJP MLA Umesh Katti on Sunday had said the disqualified MLAs "will have to find their way."

Seeking to clear the air in the backdrop of opposition to giving tickets to them, the chief minister said there was no need for any confusion. "If you desire to contest from our party, priority will be given to you in making you candidates. BJP karyakartas and leaders will take responsibility for your victory," he said. His comments assume significance as there has been growing opposition within sections of the state BJP against giving bypoll tickets to the disqualified MLAs.

Reaching out to aspirants within the party, Yediyurappa said after discussion in the cabinet in 3-4 days; opportunity would be created in boards and corporations for 10-12 BJP leaders who had lost the 2018 polls by a narrow margin. "The opportunity will be created for them so that they will work for the victory of those (disqualified MLAs) who were responsible for the party coming to power," he added. Welcoming Yediyurappa's statement, disqualified Congress MLA BC Patil said, "It is a matter of happiness. We will all sit together and decide on it in the future." Stating that disqualified MLAs have not yet discussed about joining BJP, he said, "let the court decide on our disqualification, then we will discuss it and come to a decision."

The bypolls to 15 out of 17 seats represented by them have been scheduled for December 5 even as the Supreme Court, hearing their pleas challenging the disqualification, is yet to decide on their eligibility to contest the polls. Though the MLAs had submitted their resignations from the assembly, then Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, acting on petitions by Congress and JDS, disqualified them for alleged anti-party activities under the anti-defection law till the expiry of the term of the current assembly in 2023. Among the 15 constituencies going for polls, 12 were represented by Congress and 3 by JD(S). 

READ: Congress hails EC's decision to defer Karnataka by-polls of 15 seats

EC tells SC it will defer bypolls

The Election Commission had told the Supreme Court that it would defer the upcoming by-polls of 15 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, whose MLAs were disqualified earlier. The Supreme Court is currently hearing the plea by the rebel MLAs challenging the order of former Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar disqualifying them from the House. The EC had opposed the plea of disqualified MLAs to stay the elections till the SC verdict on their petitioning challenging former speaker’s actions. Meanwhile, the apex court will continue to hear the case on October 22. Both rebel MLAs and Congress have stated that they have no objections to the deferring of polls.

READ: Karnataka: EC opposes disqualified MLAs plea in Supreme Court

Karnataka Assembly and the bypolls

The halfway mark in Karnataka assembly is 112 and in a truncated assembly, BJP had won the trust vote comfortably as the magic number was 105.BJP legislators, with the support of an independent MLA, had sailed smoothly. In the upcoming by-polls, BJP will have to win at least 8 of the 15 seats to retain their government in the state. The opposition parties, Congress and JDS, which had formed the previous government together have decided to fight the by-elections separately, without a pre-poll alliance with each other. With the wafer-thin majority of the current BJP government, all eyes are set on the SC's verdict and EC's decision. 

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