Date:30/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/30/stories/2006013007630500.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Disqualification of rebel JD(S) group sought

Staff Correspondent

Siddaramaiah says its continuation will not stand scrutiny of law

Recognition of Kumaraswamy as the JD(S)LP leader questioned
Rebel JD(S) group's whip during confidence vote criticised

JD(S) alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party termed unholy

MYSORE: The former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called for the disqualification of the rebel Janata Dal (Secular) group headed by Chief Minister-designate H.D. Kumaraswamy under the Anti Defection Act.

Speaking to presspersons after releasing the Year Planner 2006, brought out by Mysore Reporters' Guild on Sunday, Mr. Siddaramaiah said a breakaway group of a political party is presumed to have resigned its membership of the Assembly under the tenth schedule of the Anti Defection Law if it does not merge with another political party with a two-thirds majority.

"In the present instance, the group of MLAs led by Mr. Kumaraswamy neither has a two-thirds majority nor has it merged with another political party. Of the 59 Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs, Mr. Kumaraswamy commands the support of not more than 36 MLAs," Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

The rebel Janata Dal (Secular) group's continuation in the Assembly after breaking away from the parent party will not stand the scrutiny of law if the matter is taken to court. "I am sure the matter will go the court," he said.

He said the demand for the rebel Janata Dal (Secular) group's disqualification by Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha legislator Vatal Nagaraj, Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator G.V. Srirama Reddy and Republican Party of India legislator Rajendran was "perfectly valid".

"There is no escape for them from disqualification," Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

Recognition

Mr. Siddaramaiah questioned the recognition of Mr. Kumaraswamy as the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party leader by the Speaker of the Assembly. "The Speaker's decision to recognise Mr. Kumaraswamy as the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party leader is also not tenable under law," he said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who is technically a Janata Dal (Secular) MLA, also questioned Mr. Kumaraswamy group's power to issue a whip during confidence vote.

"They do not have any power to issue a whip.

Mr. Kumaraswamy's recognition as leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party is illegal," Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

"The Government is a threat to society and people of the State," Mr. Siddaramaiah said. Describing the alliance between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party as "unholy," the former Deputy Chief Minister said the "family politics" pursued by the Janata Dal (Secular) is just as dangerous as the "communal" politics followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.