<p>Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar on Thursday ordered disqualification of three rebel MLAs — Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli and R Shankar — for the term of the incumbent Legislative Assembly till May 2023 under the anti-defection law. </p>.<p>The Speaker said he would pronounce his order on the remaining 12 rebel MLAs in a couple of days. </p>.<p>The Speaker’s decision to disqualify the three rebels has come as a shot in the arm for the Congress-JD(S) coalition, which hopes that it would go a long way in unsettling the rebels’ camp and further dampen the BJP’s prospects of forming the government. </p>.<p>“I have rejected their resignations for the single reason that the circumstances compelled me to infer that their resignations were neither voluntary nor genuine. I have found enough evidence to see that they have violated the 10th Schedule,” Kumar told a news conference. </p>.<p>Kumar stressed that the disqualification barred the three MLAs from seeking re-election to the 15th Assembly. </p>.<p>Kumar said that he ordered the disqualification under 2(1)(a) of the 10th schedule read with Article 191(2).</p>.<p>The disqualified legislators were free to approach either the High Court or Supreme Court challenging his order, Kumar said. </p>.<p>Jarkiholi, who represented Gokak, had tendered resignation earlier this month and was identified as one of the chief architects of the attempt to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition. Kumathalli (Athani) is a Jarkiholi acolyte. Shankar (Ranebennur) was also found to have violated the anti-defection law.</p>.<p>To a question on whether resignation or disqualification petition will be considered first, he said that the behaviour of the legislators and law related to such resignations will take precedence.</p>
<p>Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar on Thursday ordered disqualification of three rebel MLAs — Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli and R Shankar — for the term of the incumbent Legislative Assembly till May 2023 under the anti-defection law. </p>.<p>The Speaker said he would pronounce his order on the remaining 12 rebel MLAs in a couple of days. </p>.<p>The Speaker’s decision to disqualify the three rebels has come as a shot in the arm for the Congress-JD(S) coalition, which hopes that it would go a long way in unsettling the rebels’ camp and further dampen the BJP’s prospects of forming the government. </p>.<p>“I have rejected their resignations for the single reason that the circumstances compelled me to infer that their resignations were neither voluntary nor genuine. I have found enough evidence to see that they have violated the 10th Schedule,” Kumar told a news conference. </p>.<p>Kumar stressed that the disqualification barred the three MLAs from seeking re-election to the 15th Assembly. </p>.<p>Kumar said that he ordered the disqualification under 2(1)(a) of the 10th schedule read with Article 191(2).</p>.<p>The disqualified legislators were free to approach either the High Court or Supreme Court challenging his order, Kumar said. </p>.<p>Jarkiholi, who represented Gokak, had tendered resignation earlier this month and was identified as one of the chief architects of the attempt to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition. Kumathalli (Athani) is a Jarkiholi acolyte. Shankar (Ranebennur) was also found to have violated the anti-defection law.</p>.<p>To a question on whether resignation or disqualification petition will be considered first, he said that the behaviour of the legislators and law related to such resignations will take precedence.</p>
