Karnataka crisis: Rebel MLAs may not turn up for trust vote on Thursday

MUMBAI: Karnataka’s rebel MLAs staying at Renaissance Hotel in

Powai

are likely not to participate in the trust vote called by HD Kumaraswamy government on Thursday.


With three more rebels joining them, the total number of legislators at the hotel has gone up to 15. Ten are from Congress, 3 from JD(S) and 2 Independents.

Read also: Karnataka trust vote on July 18, BJP says it has the numbers

The rebels had clarified on Sunday that they have only resigned from their posts but are still members of their parties, so they need not attend the trust vote.

They are waiting for the Supreme Court hearing on their resignations scheduled for Tuesday.

The rebels also wrote to the Mumbai police commissioner asking him to make the necessary arrangements to prevent Congress leaders from entering the hotel. They said they are under ‘serious threat’ and also named two senior Congress leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Meanwhile, Mumbai police beefed up security at the hotel. Congress leader DK Shivakumar had visited MTB Nagaraj’s residence on Saturday and to convince him to stay. Nagaraj sought time but reached Mumbai on Sunday.