Karnataka assembly turmoil: 10 BJP MLAs suspended; speaker & deputy speaker meet governor

Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader along with Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani and Assembly secretary M K Vishalakshi on Thursday called on Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and reportedly apprised him about the circumstances that led to the suspension of 10 BJP MLAs till the end of the session.

The Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution suspending 10 MLAs including four former ministers -- R Ashoka, Dr C N Ashwath Narayana, V Sunil Kumar and Araga Jnanendra.

They were suspended for their "indecent and disrespectful conduct" after they tore copies of bills and agenda documents and flung them towards the Chair.

The BJP as well as the JD(S) on Thursday boycotted the proceedings in protest against the suspension.

Only G Janardhana Reddy (Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) was present in the House from the opposition when the proceedings began this morning.

The BJP MLAs decided to meet the Governor and submit a memorandum.

The Assembly on Wednesday witnessed chaotic and unruly scenes as angry BJP legislators tore copies of bills and the agenda, and threw them at the Deputy Speaker, who was presiding the House, following which Speaker Khader suspended 10 of them for the remainder of the session.

In turn, MLAS of the opposition BJP and JD(S) gave notice of no-confidence against the Speaker to the Assembly secretary.

The turn of events had unfolded following both the opposition parties -- BJP and JD(S) -- staging a protest in the Assembly against the Congress government for allegedly "misusing" IAS officers to work for the meeting of leaders of 26 opposition parties, which was held in Bengaluru on Monday and Tuesday.