Karnataka bypolls deferred: This is demoralising the nation, says Kumaraswamy

The Election Commission agreed to defer Karnataka bypolls to 15 Assembly seats. Since the petitions challenging the disqualifications of Karnataka MLAs are still being heard by the Supreme Court, this decision was taken. After 17 MLAs rebelled against Congress and JD(S) party and resigned from their posts as legislators, they were expelled and disqualified by the concerned parties. Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar disqualified them - 13 from Congress, 3 from JD(S) and one independent - under the anti-defection law. "This is demoralising the nation," said JD(S) leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy.