After the fall of the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka, Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, on Thursday, announced the disqualification of Independent MLA R Shankar and Congress MLAs Ramesh L Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumthalli under the anti-defection law of the 10th schedule.

Reacting to the disqualification of the MLAs, Congress Legislative Party (CLP) chief Siddaramaih welcomed the decision 

(I welcome the decision of the Speaker to disqualify the three MLAs of our party who are involved in anti-party activities. Such stringent resolutions are essential for the protection of democracy. This historic decision will be a warning hour for those who violate the mandate for selfish achievement.)

Karnataka: Government Formation Suspense Mounts With All Eyes On Speaker's Decision On Rebel MLAs

Speaker on rebel MLAs' fate

Earlier on Thursday, the Speaker had said he would use his discretion and uphold the faith the Supreme Court has placed in him adding that no further opportunity will be given to the rebel MLAs to appear before him and it was a closed chapter now.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi in its order on Wednesday gave the Assembly Speaker the freedom to decide on the resignation of the 15 MLAs within such time-frame as considered appropriate by him.

The anti-defection law doesn't specify a time period for the Speaker to decide on disqualification plea. A disqualified member loses the seat and the punitive action forestalls prospects of becoming a minister in the newly sworn-in government but he or she can get re-elected to the House.

Karnataka BJP To Hold Legislature Party Meeting Wednesday

BJP's government formation plans

Meanwhile, the BJP which won the trust vote on Tuesday by garnering 105 votes in comparison to JD(S)-Congress' combined total of 99 votes, is not in a hurry to form the government as it is looking to the central leadership to take a shot at government formation.

A delegation of senior BJP leaders had met the Speaker on Wednesday to discuss the finance bill that has to be passed by the assembly before July 31 for continuing functioning of the government. 

Responding to the BJP's pleas, he said: "As soon as the government is formed and whenever those forming the government say the assembly should be convened, within 48 hours we will call a session so that the work can go on." 

Kumarswamy government falls

The 14-month-old Congress-JDS coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy collapsed on Tuesday after losing the vote of confidence in the assembly in a climax to the three-week-long intense power struggle. Kumaraswamy is still the caretaker-Chief Minister until the new government is formed.