Karnataka crisis LIVE: Need all night to examine these resignations, says Speaker

20:08 July 11

Congress and JDS MLA's including rebels got party whip to attend assembly session tomorrow.

19:45 July 11

Rebel MLAs said they went to Mumbai after threats by some people: Speaker

Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said that the rebel MLAs told him that they went to Mumbai due to fear because some people had threatened them. "But I told them that they should've approached me and I would've given them protection. Only three working days have elapsed (since the submission of resignation letters), but they behaved like an earthquake occurred," he said.

19:45 July 11

SC asked me to take a decision, says Speaker

19:27 July 11

Need all night to examine these resignations, says Speaker

19:25 July 11

Did slow down process on resignations, says Speaker

19:19 July 11

Speaker addresses issue of resignation letters not being in 'prescribed format'

Speaking to the media, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said, "On Monday, I scrutinised resignations based on Rule 202 of the Karnataka Assembly Rules and Procedures. Eight letters weren't in prescribed format. In case of the rest, I'm obliged to look if resignations are voluntary and genuine. I won't speak about voluntary and genuine nature of resignations."

19:05 July 11

Karnataka assembly speaker addresses media at Vidhana Soudha

Following the meeting with rebel MLAs, Karnataka assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar is addressing the media at Vidhana Soudha.

19:03 July 11

The meeting between the rebel MLAs and the Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar ends.

18:37 July 11

Rebel Congress MLA Byrathi Basavaraj runs into the Speaker's office in Vidhana Soudha

The rebel MLAs were supposed to meet the Speaker at 6 pm today. According to reports, the bus carrying the MLAs got a signal-free route to let the MLAs reach the Speaker's office on time.

18:13 July 11

Rebel MLAs arrive at Vidhana Soudha

The first batch of rebel MLAs have arrived at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru to submit their resignation letters. Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar is expected to address media at 7 pm. 

17:59 July 11

JD(S) files disqualification petition against rebel MLAs

According to reports, the Janata Dal (S) has filed a disqualification petition against its three rebel MLAs - Narayan Gowda, Gopalaiah, and H Vishwanath.

17:52 July 11

Rebel MLAs en-route Vidhana Soudha

The Rebel MLAs are being escorted to Vidhana Soudha by the Bengaluru police. 

17:37 July 11

Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar reaches office in Vidhana Soudha

Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar reaches office in Vidhana Soudha

17:35 July 11

Have confidence that good sense will prevail and MLAs will not leave party : DK Shivakumar

Congress leader and Karnataka Irrigation Minister D K Shivakumar, who is back in Bengaluru after a failed trip to Mumbai to meet and placate the rebel MLAs staying there, on Thursday expressed his  optimism that "good sense will prevail" and the dissidents will withdraw their resignations.

17:32 July 11

Govt will survive, ready to face no-confidence motion: Cabinet

As the government in Karnataka faces an existential crisis with the resignation of 16 legislators of the ruling coalition, the state Cabinet that met on Thursday resolved to face the situation "bravely" and "withstand" it unitedly.

Expressing confidence that the government would survive, the cabinet that met under the leadership of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said it was ready to face a no-confidence motion, if moved by the opposition BJP.

"Political developments were discussed, what was discussed and decided was that the government is in a crisis situation, there is no doubt about it, various reasons for it and steps to solve it were discussed," Rural development minister Krishna Byre Gowda said.

17:05 July 11

Rebel MLAs' plane takes off from Mumbai

A flight for Bengaluru carrying rebel MLAs has taken off from Mumbai. The legisators are expected to meet the Speaker at 6 pm on Thursday.

16:43 July 11

BJP is trying to suppress democracy, says Karnataka Congress

Congress tweeted, "BJP is trying to suppress Democracy. The Rowdyism and hooligan behaviour of their legislators are a blot to society. They have brought a very bad name to Karnataka and have shamed the state with their demeanour. This act is deplorable and anti-democratic."

16:41 July 11

CLP leader Siddaramaiah arrives at Kumarakripa guest house

CLP leader Siddaramaiah arrived at Kumarakripa guest house in Karnataka's Bengaluru.

16:38 July 11

HDK, DK Shivakumar inspect security arrangement at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Congress leader DK Shivakumar and other coalition leaders are inspecting security arrangement at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The rebel MLAs have been directed by the Supreme Court to meet Karnataka Assembly speaker at 6 pm on Thursday and resubmit their resignations. 

16:34 July 11

Disgruntled MLAs approaching SC made things 'murky': Karna Speaker

Ahead of his meeting with the disgruntled Congress and JD(S) MLAs, Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar Thursday said the legislators approaching the Supreme Court made things appear "murky."

The Congress and JD(S) MLAs, who had resigned from the Assembly are slated to meet the Speaker by 6 PM, in accordance with the Apex court. "I had not prevented them (disgruntled MLAs) from coming (to my office). I don't know why they moved the Supreme Court to meet me," Kumar told reporters outside the Vidhana Soudha here.

"There was no need for them (MLAs who resigned) to approach the Court (for a direction) that I should meet them. They could have willingly come here. That itself shows the whole thing is murky," he said.

15:52 July 11

Speaker Ramesh Kumar's advocate urges SC on an urgent hearing

File Photo

The advocate representing the speaker Ramesh Kumar, Abhishek Manu Singhvi has urged the Supreme Court to take up an urgent hearing, as the speaker needs more time to analyse the resignations. He also said that the Apex Court cannot direct the speaker in such matters.

However, the SC has rejected the urgent hearing.

15:38 July 11

MLAs are expected to meet the Speaker in Vidhan Soudha at 6 pm

The 10 MLAs are expected to reach Bengaluru by 4 pm today and will meet the Speaker in Vidhan Soudha at 6 pm.

14:59 July 11

Will meet speaker, but won't withdraw resignation: Rebel MLA

Reacting to the court's directive, rebel MLA Byrathi Basavaraj, who is staying at the Renaissance Hotel in Powai along with his other dissident colleagues, told reporters that they would meet the Karnataka Assembly speaker by 4 pm.

"We respect the Supreme Court's directives. We will meet the speaker today itself by 4 pm and tender our resignations. We will not withdraw our resignations," he said.

14:57 July 11

Senior Congress leaders along with lawyers hold a meeting at speaker Ramesh Kumar's office

Senior Congress leaders along with lawyers hold a meeting at speaker Ramesh Kumar's office. Leaders discuss legal options following Supreme Court's directions.

13:44 July 11

Karnataka crisis LIVE: Need all night to examine these resignations, says Speaker

All rebel MLAs reached Mumbai airport.

Mumbai:Fourteen Karnataka rebel MLAs staying at a hotel in Mumbai may fly back to Bengaluru on Thursday afternoon to meet the Assembly Speaker, sources said.

The move comes after the Supreme Court allowed the rebel MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka to meet the Speaker at 6 pm to convey to him their decision to resign.

"The rebel MLAs can now appear before the Speaker in Karnataka. They are planning to book a flight at 2 pm to Bengaluru so that they can meet the speaker and put forth their statement," a source said.

Asked if some more ruling coalition MLAs in Karnataka were likely to switch sides, he said, "They will join these legislators in Bengaluru itself. The future course of action will be decided after the MLAs meet the speaker," he said.

Fourteen MLAs -- including those of the Congress, the JD(S) and Independents -- have been staying at the Renaissance Hotel in Powai after resigning from the Karnataka Assembly and withdrawing support to the coalition government.