This is what BJP is doing to save the Legislative Council chairperson’s seat
- Legislative Council Chairperson D H Shankarmurthy has issued notice to eight members
- Among them, six are from Congress and two from JD(S)
- Congress is planning to propose a no-confidence motion against Shankaramurthy
FollowLegislative Council Chairperson D H Shankarmurthy has issued notices to eight members on charges of giving wrong information to the council about their travel allowance.
The BJP is seeking to book a criminal case against eight members including former minister Allam Veerabhadrappa who are charged with having their names voters list of two places. Shankaramurthy has issued a notice to the members concerned in this regards and has asked them to submit objections, if any, before June 3.
On the other hand, Congress is trying its best to propose a no-confidence motion against the chairperson. Thus the notice by the chairperson is seen as a tactic to save his chair.
During the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike elections for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Council’s Congress members Raghu Achar, Bosaraju, S Ravi, Allam Veerabhadrappa, Ramappa Thimmapur, MD Lakshminarayana, S Manohar (from JDS) and Appaji Gowda (JDS) had cast their votes. But BJP’s Padmanabha Reddy had accused them of furnishing false details to the election commission. They were also accused of giving wrong information about their travel allowance.
This has led to the Council Chairperson Shankaramurthy issuing notices to six members from Congress and two from JDS.
But even if they are sent out or not allowed to vote, this will not help BJP retain its seat because of the total 75 members; Congress has 32 members supported by two independents Byrati Suresh, MD Lakshminarayana and Vivekrao Patil. BJP has 23 members, and JD(S) has 13 members. However, two seats are vacant as Vimalagowda passed away and another seat is not filled.
Thus, if Congress decided to have a no confidence motion, BJP cannot win unless it is supported by JD(S) as the party needs at least 38 votes.
If the eight members are dismissed, Congress will have 29 supporters (including the three independents), and JD(S) will have 11 members. Congress will need JD(S) support to make Shankaramurthy step down. BJP has only 23 members, and even if two independents – DU Mallikarjun and Basanagowda Yatnal support BJP, they will have only 25 votes.
Thus even going by all equations there is no answer available for the chairman’s decision to issue a notice to eight members. Probably, the BJP is trying to make the no confidence motion a difficult one for Congress.
