Bengaluru: Former Karnataka speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar has defended his decision to disqualify 17 rebel MLAs in the state until 2023, and said he disagreed with the Supreme Court’s observation Wednesday that he could not dictate the duration of the disqualification.
Speaking to ThePrint, Kumar said he stood by his decision, adding there was a need to “punish” legislators who were making a mockery of democracy by jumping the ship.
“I was very firm in my decision. It was my interpretation of law and the provisions of the Constitution. I cannot prevent the Supreme Court to take a different view from the one I hold,” said Kumar.
He added, “In the eyes of the court, what I have done may have appeared to them as they mentioned, but I am not in agreement. I accept their decision because it is the Supreme Court.”
Kumar had disqualified the 17 MLAs of the then ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition ahead of a trust vote in July over violation of the anti-defection law. Then chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had resigned after losing the vote, paving the way for the BJP-led government in the state under B.S. Yediyurappa.
In its verdict announced Wednesday, the apex court upheld Kumar’s decision to disqualify the rebel legislators. However, the court held that the Speaker cannot dictate the duration of the disqualification.
“There is a growing trend of the Speaker acting against the constitutional duty of being neutral,” noted the court.
With the court clearing the way for the rebel legislators to contest next month’s bypolls, 16 of them joined the ruling BJP.
Also read: How ‘constitutional silences’ saved the day for 17 disqualified Karnataka MLAs
‘Wanted to set an example’
Despite the court’s ruling, veteran Congressman K.R. Ramesh Kumar said he wanted to set an example in the country for zero tolerance towards party defectors.
“Defection is a malady… If allowed to continue unchecked, it will shake the very foundation of democracy of this country. That message keeps ringing in my ears. If I have done something, it is only in tune with that,” said Kumar.
“I have no other hidden agenda. I had no other intention, if what I did was considered an overreach,” added Kumar.
Calling it a missed opportunity, Kumar said the Supreme Court had the perfect chance to set a precedent against brazen acts of defection and ensure it is curbed.
With no clarity on punishment for party hoppers, Kumar said the judiciary should mirror the aspirations of Indians and not accept the mockery made by the lawmakers.
Ramesh’s strong message for Congress
In a strong message for the Karnataka Congress, K.R. Ramesh Kumar said, “If they have any sense of shame left, they should not join hands again with the JD(S).”
In view of the political drama and defections in the state, there is an urgent need for the Congress party to subject itself to serious self-introspection, said Kumar.
The Congress had formed a post-poll alliance with the JD(S), conceding to the latter’s demand to have Kumaraswamy lead the government despite its 37-seat tally in the 224-member assembly. Congress had 80 seats. After the disqualification, the figure stands at 34 and 69, respectively.
In a piece of advice for his partymen, Kumar said, “Stop giving prominence to people who project themselves as leaders but have lost their touch with their roots and are only surviving and thriving after making fortunes for generations to come.”
He pointed out that people are not unhappy with the Congress party. Rather, he said, they are upset with its leaders and lack of leadership.
“I am not a frequent flyer to Delhi, but I love my party and I respect my high command just like any other disciplined party worker. But all those bees running around in Delhi should be soon shown their place. Enough is enough. They should be kept on the sidelines,” Kumar said.
Also read: BJP backs Yediyurappa as he ‘admits’ Amit Shah role in rebellion of Congress-JD(S) MLAs
I agree with Ramesh Kumar
2 days to retire, would you care?
Mr. Ramesh kumar is only a speaker of assembly. Not supreme court. Better not to act like left out piece of British rule. We are in democracy. Defection & chnger is fun in democracy.
Ending defections is not the apex court’s job. There is a point beyond which the anti defection law too does not work. Any strongly electable legislator, confident of his personal popularity, can pay the price in terms of losing his seat and recontesting on another symbol. It is for the ruling party – as the overwhelming political hegemon – to consider whether it wishes to set a higher standard for the political class in this sphere. Defectors have not done very well in the recent Assembly election in Maharashtra.