Playing hardball, disgruntled Congress MLAs skipped the Assembly Session for the second day on Thursday, even as the BJP blocked proceedings of the House, claiming the ruling coalition has lost majority.
Anxiety-gripped Congress has convened a legislature party (CLP) meeting on Friday ahead of Budget presentation and warned its MLAs that absence would invite action under the Anti-Defection Law.
Opposition BJP continued its protest against the Congress-JD(S) coalition Government from the Well of the Assembly for the second consecutive day, forcing the speaker to adjourn the House without transacting any business.
“Nine MLAs from the ruling side have not signed the assembly attendance register today,” official sources said.
Though a couple of legislators had given prior intimation about inability to attend, absence of legislators allegedly in touch with the BJP to switch sides, continued to be a cause of worry for the ruling coalition leaders.
Four MLAs— Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh G Jadhav, B Nagendra, Mahesh Kumathalli, who had skipped the January 18 CLP meeting and were issued notice, continued to remain absent from the House on Thursday too.
JN Ganesh, who is declared absconding after an alleged brawl with a colleague lawmaker at a resort recently, was also among the absentees.
From JD(S), lawmaker K C Narayana Gowda, who has not been attending the assembly since Wednesday, was allegedly in touch with BJP, according to top coalition sources.
However, Gowda speaking to a local channel has cited health reasons for his absence.
Senior Congress MLAs have expressed confidence about Jarkiholi, Jadhav, Nagendra and Kumathalli, along with B C Patil, being present at the CLP meeting.
Congress legislators have been asked to attend the “special” CLP meeting “without fail” to discuss the Budget session, approval to the Budget, legislation and other related matters by CLP leader Siddaramaiah.
The letter to all party MLAs also States that absence from the meeting would be viewed seriously and action taken against them under the Anti-Defection law.
A similar notice was issued to legislators ahead of the CLP meeting on January 18, which four of them had skipped,leading to resort politics in the State, amid alleged renewed bid by BJP to topple the Government by poaching Congress MLAs.
Ignoring whip, nine Congress and one JD(S) MLA had skipped the legislature sitting on Wednesday, that saw BJP members disrupting the address of Governor Vajubhai Vala to the joint sitting of the state legislature.