Notices to rebel JD(S) MLAs

Karnataka legislative assembly speaker Krishna has ordered the issue of notices to 39 rebel JD(S) MLAs, including chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, on a petition filed by three legislators, seeking their disqualification under the provisions of the anti-defection law.

Krishna informed the House on Thursday that notices will be issued to all the 39 legislators. The petition was filed by G V Srirama Reddy (CPM), Vatal Nagaraj (ind) and Rajendran (RPI). "I have to function as a tribunal while deciding the issue," he said when Nagaraj sought to know the fate of their petition.

The petition was filed on January 27, the day on which the Congress-JD(S) government headed by Dharam Singh collapsed after Kumaraswamy staged a political coup.