11 rebel BJP MLAs in Karnataka served notices

Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah today served notices on 11 rebel legislators of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asking them to explain why they should not be disqualified under the anti-defection law for anti-party activities.

Even as the crisis looks far from being over, the central leadership of the BJP is confident the dissidence problem would be solved in the next few days. The party is contemplating an expansion of the state cabinet to bring the MLAs back.

Senior BJP leaders have indicated the MLAs would first have to return to the party and vote during the floor test scheduled for October 12. Only then would the central leadership talk about any expansion in the state cabinet.

The legislators who got the notices are M P Renukacharya, Gopalakrishna Beluru, Anand Asnotikar, Balachandra Jarkiholi, B N Sarvabhouma, Bharamgowda Kage, Y Sampangi, G N Nanjundaswamy, M V Nagaraju, Shivan Gowda Nayak and H S Shankaralinge Gowda.