'Don't allow rebel JD(S) MLAs to vote in RS polls'

A petition has been filed before the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer - Karnataka seeking that the seven suspended JD(S) MLAs should not be allowed to cast their vote in the March 23 Rajya Sabha polls.

The petition filed by one B S Gowda, Mandya district president of the JD(U), states that the seven JD(S) MLAs were suspended from the party after they cross-voted in the 2016 Rajya Sabha polls. The JD(S) had also filed a petition before the Speaker of the Assembly seeking their disqualification. However, even after more than one year no decision has been taken on the fate of these MLAs.

Gowda stated that as per a Supreme Court order all such matters should be disposed of by the Speaker within three months. As the matter is still pending, the seven legislators should not be allowed to vote, he stated. Gowda has also marked a copy of his petition to Speaker K B Koliwad.