Karnataka Assembly’s power dynamics shift amidst MLAs suspension

In a day of high drama in the Karnataka Assembly on July 20, Speaker U T Khader, accompanied by Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani and Assembly Secretary M K Vishalakshi, briefed Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on the unfolding political crisis precipitated by the suspension of ten BJP MLAs until the session’s end.
The Assembly had approved a resolution the previous day, resulting in the suspension of ten legislators, including prominent figures such as R Ashoka, Dr C N Ashwath Narayana, V Sunil Kumar, and Araga Jnanendra, all of whom previously held ministerial positions. These suspensions were in response to what was described as “indecent and disrespectful conduct”, where they ripped and threw bills and agenda documents towards the Chair.
This dramatic action triggered an immediate backlash from both the BJP and the JD(S), who boycotted the Assembly proceedings on Thursday in a show of protest against the suspensions. Among the opposition, only G Janardhana Reddy from the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) attended the House as the proceedings kicked off. The suspended BJP MLAs, feeling aggrieved by the disciplinary action, sought to bring their case before Governor Gehlot, planning to present a memorandum expressing their discontent.
The scene at the Assembly was in stark contrast to the normal calm, with angry BJP legislators vehemently tearing copies of bills and the agenda, launching them towards the Deputy Speaker presiding over the House. In response to this unruly behaviour, Speaker Khader handed down the suspensions for the rest of the session. Adding to the already heated situation, opposition MLAs from both the BJP and JD(S) have issued a notice of no-confidence against Speaker Khader, turning the tables in a power struggle that continues to simmer.
The backdrop to this unfolding drama is the BJP and JD(S)’s protest against the ruling Congress party, accusing them of “misusing” IAS officers for arranging a meeting between leaders of 26 opposition parties held in Bengaluru earlier this week. The repercussions of these political manoeuvrings are yet to fully reveal themselves, but they promise to reshape the power dynamics in the Karnataka Assembly.