File photo of BS Yediyurappa and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy (R)

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: The Election Commission 's move to defer the upcoming bypolls to 15 assembly constituencies in Karnataka has come in for sharp criticism from the JD(S) and the Congress even as the BJP termed it as "first victory" for the disqualified MLAs.

The poll body on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it would defer the upcoming bypolls till the apex court finally decides the pleas filed by 17 MLAs of the state challenging their disqualification by former speaker K R Ramesh Kumar.

BJP welcomes EC move

Chief minister B S Yediyurappa said, "Supreme Court has said it will decide on the 17 disqualified MLAs and has posted (hearing) on October 22. I'm surprised that opposition is expressing doubts and speaking lightly about the court decision. We will have to wait and see what the SC decides."

Speaking to reporters, he said "It is relief to those (disqualified MLAs) who were anxious. What next is left to them. Today's SC decision is historic, I welcome it along with others."

Welcoming the development, BJP leader and minister for rural development and panchayat raj K S Eshwarappa tweeted this would give time for the court to examine the case in detail and give its verdict.

"It is the first victory for the disqualified MLAs who had sought a stay on the bypolls," he said.

Opposition slams election commission

However, reacting strongly to the EC move, former chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said the poll panel's interference in the matter reflects the fact that it is a "puppet" of the Central government.

"The Supreme Court's judgment was a surprise for everyone. I think, after the EC announcing dates for any elections, this is for the first time such decision was given by the constitutional authorities. The Centre sent their representatives in the middle of the argument. The EC is not the party. Then how could they interfere in the argument," Kumaraswamy told news agency ANI.

"The EC is a puppet of the Central government. The EC is not working properly as it is being illegally run by the Centre," he said.

Claiming that the EC is being influenced by the Centre, the former chief minister said: "The plea was filed by disqualified MLAs and the issue was between the speaker and the concerned parties. Who influences the EC to interfere? By seeing this development, anyone can judge that the EC is being run by the Centre."

Echoing similar sentiments, JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda said: "I do not know what made the EC go before the SC and argue that the matter to be deferred. This is for the first time that I have seen such a situation in my life. I cannot say anything more. I do not know whether all these institutions are going to function in a free and fair manner."

The Congress also dubbed the move as "unprecedented".

Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "There were rampant defections in Karnataka mocking at the Constitution and also the anti-defection law enshrined in the Constitution where an elected government with full majority was unseated by a group of defectors, who were rightfully in accordance with the jurisdiction of the speaker under the Constitution were disqualified."

He said until today the Supreme Court has not stayed the order of the speaker that means the order must be correct.

"To defer an ongoing election process is itself unprecedented," Surjewala said.

The Congress leader said that for the law laid down by Supreme Court in last 70 years that they will not interfere with the process of election. "Now the Supreme Court itself is interfering in elections as notified by the Election Commission. To me it's constitutionally strange. The Supreme Court is right as they are final and there is no appeal beyond that," he said.

Disqualified MLAs hopeful

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, a disqualified MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi expressed hope that they will get "100 per cent justice."

Another disqualified MLA B C Patil said it was a welcome move because after the bypoll if the disqualification was revoked, then it would lead to a situation where one constituency would have had two MLAs, which would have gone against the constitution.

"We are confident we will get justice," R R Nagar disqualified MLA Munirathna said, as he accused the then speaker Ramesh Kumar of intentionally disqualifying them and being partisan in favour Congress.

