Kapil Sibal on disqualified MLAs contesting elections: 'It pays to defect'

A day after Supreme Court upheld disqualification of 17 rebel MLAs from Karnataka, ding that y can contest upcoming by-polls in state, Congress leer Kapil Sibal took to Twitter to express his views. On Thursday, taking to Twitter, Sibal said that though 17 disqualified held to be qualified to seek re-election despite ir defection and if, when elected y will be protected by law. He ded that this will prove that defections pays.

His comment comes after Supreme Court upheld decision of disqualification of MLAs by speaker. However, apex court stroke down period of disqualification. judgement was rendered by a three-judge bench comprising Justices NV Ramana, Sanjiv Khanna, and Krishna Murari.  Supreme Court's verdict will have a bearing on BS Yediyurappa government in Karnataka. In 224-member House, BSY currently has support of 106 MLAs. Bypolls to 15 of 17 vacant seats will be held on December 5. BJP has to win at least six of 15 seats to remain in power. With Supreme Court's decision to allow rebel MLAs to contest polls, it is w to be seen wher BJP will field m as its minees.

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Bypolls in Karnataka

A total of 15 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka are going to bypolls on December 5 and counting of votes has been scheduled for December 9.  date for filing minations for bypolls to 15 Assembly seats in Karnataka are from vember 11-18. elections to 15 Assembly seats were earlier slated for October 21 but later postponed to December 5 by Election Commission (EC) as case pertaining to disqualification of 17 MLAs was pending in Supreme Court. apex court reserved judgment on ir disqualification in October.

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Why were MLAs disqualified?

In July this year, 14 MLAs from Congress and 3 from JDS quit Assembly. As 17 rebels stayed away from Assembly, Congress-JD-S government fell during a trust vote on July 23, as a result of which BJP government under Yediyurappa was formed on July 26. However, on July 25 and 28, n-Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar issued two orders under anti-defection law, disqualifying 17 MLAs from House and barring m from contesting elections during tenure of current Assembly. MLAs n moved top Court asking that Speaker’s orders be quashed. Congress and JD-S too approached court.

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