The Election Commission (EC) on Monday served show cause notices to the mining magnets and ministers in Karnataka cabinet, G Janardhan Reddy, G Karunakar Reddy and their close confidante B Sreeramulu, to appear before it by July 15.
While the State Election Commission officials declined to divulge the contents of the notice, it is believed that the commission has sought explanation from the ministers regarding their disqualification as legislators.
The point of contention is that the three ministers are holding office of profit being the ministers in the state cabinet.
The EC has come out with notices after Karnataka governor H R Bharadwaj forwarded a petition he received from Congress leader and former MP K C Kondaiah seeking the Reddy brothers’ disqualification, charging that as ministers, there was a conflict of interest with them having business interests in mining in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
While, Janardhan Reddy and Sreeramulu received the notice personally, Karunakar Reddy, minister for revenue was served notice at his office in his absence as he was in Bellary.
Earlier, the governor had asked them to appear in person to clear their stand in this regard but they sent their advocates.
More From This Section
Confirming the receipt of the notice of the EC, Janardhan Reddy, minister for tourism and infrastructure told Business Standard, “I have received a letter from the EC. It has got nothing to do with the disqualification of my membership from the state legislative council. The EC wants to know my opinion on the letter written by the Governor of Karnataka before replying to it. I will make my stand clear very soon.”
Earlier, talking to reporters outside the state assembly, Sreeramulu, minister for health said, “I have received the notice. I will consult legal experts and decide on the next course of action.”
Siddaramaiah, leader of the opposition in state legislative assembly said, “The three ministers have been misusing their powers and forcing the state cabinet to drop several cases against them. They are influencing the state cabinet to change the policies of the government to their favour.”