<p>Karnataka politics hit a new low Wednesday when a legislator was heckled and virtually locked up after which a pitched battle ensued between arch-rivals BJP and the Congress inside Vidhana Soudha, forcing the police to storm the corridors of power. </p>.<p>The trigger for this was the resignation of two Congress legislators — Housing Minister M T B Nagaraju (Hoskote) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) chairperson K Sudhakar (Chikkaballapur). With this, the number of rebel MLAs rose to 18, deepening the crisis for the embattled Congress-JD(S) coalition. </p>.<p>After Sudhakar emerged out of Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar’s chamber, Congress workers pulled him by his collar, abusing him.</p>.<p>This happened right in front of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao. Despite police presence, Sudhakar was dragged into Industries Minister K J George’s chamber where he was confined for nearly half an hour so that Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah could talk him out of the resignation.</p>.<p>The BJP entered the scene protesting the way Sudhakar was treated, leading to a skirmish with Congress leaders. The drama saw Bengaluru city police commissioner Alok Kumar rushing to Vidhana Soudha with additional forces. The police brought Sudhakar out of confinement following Governor Vajubhai R Vala’s intervention and he was taken to Raj Bhavan. </p>.<p>Condemning the manhandling of the rebel MLA, the BJP demanded immediate sacking of the ruling coalition. </p>.<p>Siddaramaiah, however, played it down: “He was not taken forcibly by anybody and there was no coercion. He’s our friend and well-wisher. He’s our MLA.”</p>.<p>With 16 MLAs having tendered resignations and two Independent MLAs supporting the BJP, the ruling coalition’s tally is down to 101 against the BJP’s 107. </p>.<p>Earlier in the day, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa led a delegation to Raj Bhavan seeking the Governor’s intervention on the grounds that the government was in a minority. The saffron party also complained against the Speaker, accusing him of allowing a minority government to function.</p>
<p>Karnataka politics hit a new low Wednesday when a legislator was heckled and virtually locked up after which a pitched battle ensued between arch-rivals BJP and the Congress inside Vidhana Soudha, forcing the police to storm the corridors of power. </p>.<p>The trigger for this was the resignation of two Congress legislators — Housing Minister M T B Nagaraju (Hoskote) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) chairperson K Sudhakar (Chikkaballapur). With this, the number of rebel MLAs rose to 18, deepening the crisis for the embattled Congress-JD(S) coalition. </p>.<p>After Sudhakar emerged out of Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar’s chamber, Congress workers pulled him by his collar, abusing him.</p>.<p>This happened right in front of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao. Despite police presence, Sudhakar was dragged into Industries Minister K J George’s chamber where he was confined for nearly half an hour so that Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah could talk him out of the resignation.</p>.<p>The BJP entered the scene protesting the way Sudhakar was treated, leading to a skirmish with Congress leaders. The drama saw Bengaluru city police commissioner Alok Kumar rushing to Vidhana Soudha with additional forces. The police brought Sudhakar out of confinement following Governor Vajubhai R Vala’s intervention and he was taken to Raj Bhavan. </p>.<p>Condemning the manhandling of the rebel MLA, the BJP demanded immediate sacking of the ruling coalition. </p>.<p>Siddaramaiah, however, played it down: “He was not taken forcibly by anybody and there was no coercion. He’s our friend and well-wisher. He’s our MLA.”</p>.<p>With 16 MLAs having tendered resignations and two Independent MLAs supporting the BJP, the ruling coalition’s tally is down to 101 against the BJP’s 107. </p>.<p>Earlier in the day, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa led a delegation to Raj Bhavan seeking the Governor’s intervention on the grounds that the government was in a minority. The saffron party also complained against the Speaker, accusing him of allowing a minority government to function.</p>