Karnataka Governor writes to CM, Speaker to revoke suspension of 18 BJP members from Assembly

Thaawarchand Gehlot
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Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Speaker U.T. Khader asking them to “positively consider” the request to revoke the suspension of 18 BJP members of the Legislative Assembly.

In the letters addressed to the Chief Minister and the Speaker, the Governor said he desired that they take a positive step in order to uphold the basic tenets of democratic values in the State and to enable the suspended MLAs to resume their responsibilities as representatives of the people.

Delegation meeting

A delegation of BJP legislators, led by party State president B.Y. Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok, met the Governor on Monday seeking his intervention in revoking the suspension of the 18 BJP MLAs. Mr. Ashok had stated that the Governor assured them of writing to the government and initiating discussions with the Speaker on the issue. The BJP had also met the Speaker on the issue earlier.

The Governor, citing the memorandum submitted by the BJP legislature party leaders, said in his letter that they had requested him to forward their representation to the Speaker and the State government. “In view of the above, to uphold the basic tenets of democratic values in the State of Karnataka and to enable the suspended members to resume their responsibilities as people’s representatives, I desire that their request be considered positively, and necessary steps be taken to revoke the suspension,” the Governor’s letter said.

During the Budget session of the legislature, 18 MLAs belonging to the BJP had been suspended for six months from the House for creating a ruckus. They had been suspended for “indiscipline and disrespectful behaviour” towards the Speaker’s chair. They had mounted vociferous protests demanding a judicial or CBI probe into the allegations by Minister K.N. Rajanna, and had also torn papers and booklets and hurled them towards the Speaker.