HC verdict leaves parties on the edge

As soon as the Court verdict came in the afternoon, the leaders of BJP and JD(S) held separate meetings to understand the implications of the order.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, after holding talks with Law Minister Suresh Kumar and some advocates, told reporters that he would not like to comment on anything till the final verdict is out.

Advocate General Ashok Harnahalli, who was in Hubli, said there was nothing anyone could do at this juncture except wait for the final verdict.

K Diwakar, legal advisor to the Chief Minister, said divergent or dissenting judgements by a bench is nothing new.

Opposition parties had been alleging that the Assembly Speaker office had been misused by the ruling party and procedures were not followed while disqualifying the 11 BJP members. But the court did not find fault with the Speaker’s office on those lines. “Hope now the Opposition will stop complaining,” he said.

Diwakar added that when the matter is heard by a new judge, then both the litigants and respondents could once again argue their case.

Congress leaders, mainly to keep its members together, held a Congress Legislature Party meeting in the morning and another in the evening at a star hotel.

CLP leader Siddaramaiah played safe by saying he would react only after the final verdict is out. KPCC President R V Deshpande said the Speaker’s decision was unconstitutional and that the party has “faith in judiciary and would wait for the verdict.”

JD(S) State President H D Kumaraswamy met the party chief, his father H D Deve Gowda at the latter’s Padamanabhanagar residence and discussed the court verdict. He said he was confident that rebel MLAs would finally get justice.