Ramesh Kumar, the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly addressed the media, apprising them of the events that have taken place since July 6. As he has taken time to either accept or reject the resignations, one thing is for sure: the Kumaraswamy government is safe for at least one more week now.
Bengaluru: Speaker of Karnataka Assembly Ramesh Kumar is the man of the moment now.
All eyes are on him as he holds the key for the continuation of the coalition government headed by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.
Today (July 9) the Speaker addressed the media, detailing the events that took place since July 6.
He said, “I was in office on July 6 up to 12.30 pm. None of the MLAs approached me for an appointment. On my leaving office on account of personal engagements, 13 MLAs handed over their resignations to my private secretary.”
He added, “Eight resignations submitted to me are not in the prescribed format. We have written back to them to submit the forms in the correct format. However, the resignation letters of the remaining five are fine.”
To those who resignation letters are in the right format, the Speaker said, “I have asked MLAs Anand Singh and Narayana Gowda to meet me on July 12. I have also asked MLAs Ramalinga Reddy and Gopalaiah to meet me on July 15.”
The Speaker also had this to say about a complaint filed against a few disgruntled Congressmen by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah and state Congress unit chief Dinesh Gundu Rao.
“Siddaramaiah and Dinesh Gundu Rao met me, seeking action against disgruntled MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi and two others in accordance with 10th schedule of Indian Constitution. I have called them on the July 11. I have asked them to submit whatever evidence they have in support of their complaint.”
The Speaker also informed the media about the letters written by the Governor Vajubhai Vala in relation to the resignations.
“The Governor, in his letter has informed me that several MLAs met him and told him they resigned voluntarily. He has asked me to start the procedure immediately. He has also expressed confidence in me that I would uphold the Constitutional values.”
Lastly, the Speaker also informed the media about the grievances submitted by the members of the public in relation to the resignations.
“A few members of the public – from farmers to vendors – have written to me stating their displeasure over the resignations and the burden that will be passed on to them if elections were held. So I have asked them to appear when the hearings happen,” he said.
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