Karnataka Political Crisis: Karnataka speaker KR Ramesh Kumar addresses media

The ten rebel Karnataka lawmakers, with heavy police protection, reached the state assembly to meet the Speaker and confirm their resignations. The resignations will leave the ruling Congress-JDS coalition in minority.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered the lawmakers to meet Speaker Ramesh Kumar at 6pm. The speaker will be conveying his decision to the top court today.

The rebel lawmakers had gone to the court alleging the Speaker had not accepted their resignation letters in order to help save the Karnataka government and give its negotiators time to regain numbers.

The speaker also said there was no need for the lawmakers to involve the court. "They could have willingly come here. That itself shows the whole thing is murky".

The Speaker claims he was not in office when the resignation letters came in on Saturday. After examining them on Tuesday, Mr Kumar rejected eight, asking the lawmakers to meet him on July 17.

Here are the highlights on the Karnataka crisis:

Jul 12, 2019 02:27 (IST) Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress: With active support of government & Raj Bhavan, BJP leaders made Congress leaders & ministers fly to Mumbai in special aircraft & provided them security from Maharashtra government. They were not allowed to meet anyone except BJP leaders. (11.7.19) https://t.co/WunO1mpnB1 - ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2019

Jul 11, 2019 23:45 (IST) "Congress-JDS Coalition Going Strong," tweets Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy



"Congress -JDS coalition in the state is going strong despite the efforts to destabilize. We are confident and prepared for a smooth and fruitful conduct of legislative sessions," tweeted Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. It is unnecessary to give importance to Tourism Minister Sa. Ra. Mahesh's casual meeting with BJP leaders at the new building of KK guest house, managed by KSTDC which comes under his portfolio.2/2 - H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) July 11, 2019

Jul 11, 2019 21:44 (IST) "All signs of a fascist rule," tweets Congress's G Parameshwara



"I'm confident the resignations will be carefully examined by the Speaker. We abide by the law & believe in our Constitution. It is alarming that BJP's deplorable attempts to topple our government is supported by its national leaders. All signs of a fascist rule," tweeted Congress's G Parameshwara. I'm confident the resignations will be carefully examined by the Speaker. We abide by the law & believe in our Constitution.



It is alarming that BJP's deplorable attempts to topple our government is supported by its national leaders. All signs of a fascist rule! - Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) July 11, 2019

Jul 11, 2019 20:43 (IST) "Can't Work At Lightning Speed": Karnataka Speaker On Meeting Rebels

Ten rebel Karnataka lawmakers, heavily protected by policemen, briskly walked to the Speaker's chamber in the state assembly Vidhana Souda on Thursday holding blank papers and rewrote their resignation which, if accepted, will leave the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in a minority.

Ten rebel Karnataka lawmakers, heavily protected by policemen, briskly walked to the Speaker's chamber in the state assembly Vidhana Souda on Thursday holding blank papers and rewrote their resignation which, if accepted, will leave the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in a minority.

Jul 11, 2019 20:20 (IST) Read Here: DK Shivakumar On Karnataka Crisis: Have Confidence They Will Not Leave

Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar, the Congres-JDS alliance's troubleshooter who went to Mumbai to convince the rebels to return to the alliance fold, has exuded confidence that the lawmakers would not quit the party from which they had been elected to the legislature. Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar, the Congres-JDS alliance's troubleshooter who went to Mumbai to convince the rebels to return to the alliance fold, has exuded confidence that the lawmakers would not quit the party from which they had been elected to the legislature.

Jul 11, 2019 19:45 (IST) "MLAs have submitted resignation in right format now," Karnataka speaker: news agency PTI



"MLAs have submitted resignation in right format now," Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI



Jul 11, 2019 19:44 (IST) "Will have to examine whether resignations are voluntary and genuine," says Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar



"I will have to examine whether resignations are voluntary and genuine," Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.



Jul 11, 2019 19:42 (IST) "I have videographed everything and I will send it to Supreme Court," says Karnataka Speaker



"The Supreme Court has asked me to take a decision. I have videographed everything and I will send it to the Supreme Court," said KR Ramesh Kumar, Karnataka speaker.



Jul 11, 2019 19:35 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: "They had time, they had special flights," says Karnataka Speaker



"They had time, they had special flights, they had the money -- So they went to Mumbai, they went to Delhi," the Karnataka speaker said.



Jul 11, 2019 19:35 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: "I have videographed the entire meeting. I will be sending this as proof," says Karnataka speaker



"I have videographed the entire meeting and I will be sending this as proof," says KR Ramesh Kumar, Karnataka Speaker.



Jul 11, 2019 19:34 (IST) Karnataka Political Crisis:"You will go to Mumbai, do press meets. You will go to Delhi, come back with police protection": Karnataka speaker hits out at rebel lawmakers



"You guys will go to Mumbai and do press meets. You guys will go to Delhi and come back with heavy police protection," says KR Ramesh Kumar, Karnataka Speaker



Jul 11, 2019 19:33 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: "All this made it seem like I was a bad person," says Karnataka speaker



"To meet me- their own speaker- they had to go to the court. Is this fair? Who kept them? They never came to me with any of this. They went to Mumbai - from there the Supeme Court - they did not come to me. All this made it seem like I was the bad person," said Karnataka speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.



Jul 11, 2019 19:32 (IST)

"I am 70 and I don't have to believe that I will live for 70 years. I want to live peacefully. I have no obligations. My only obligations are to the state. Please let me die in peace," said Karnataka speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.



Jul 11, 2019 19:20 (IST) Karnataka Political Crisis: "Cannot expect me to work in lightning speed," says Karnataka speaker



"You cannot expect me to work in lightning speed. I have to go through the procedure as per constitution," says Karnataka speaker.



Jul 11, 2019 19:16 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: "I was in my chamber till 1.30 pm. MLAs came at 2 pm without prior appointment," says Karnataka Speaker



"On July 6, I was in my chamber till 1.30 pm. The MLAs came there at 2 pm, they didn't even take prior appointment. So, it's untrue that I ran away because they were coming," KR Ramesh Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.



Jul 11, 2019 19:10 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: "Felt hurt when I saw news that I am delaying the process," says Karnataka speaker on rebel lawmakers' resignations



"I felt hurt when I saw some news that I am delaying the process. Governor informed me on 6th. I was in office till then and later I left for personal work. Before that no MLAs informed that they were coming to meet me," Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.



Jul 11, 2019 19:09 (IST) READ HERE: Karnataka Rebel Lawmakers Meet Speaker Ramesh Kumar, Submit Resignations Again

Ten rebel Karnataka lawmakers, heavily protected by policemen, briskly walked to the Speaker's chamber in the state assembly Vidhana Souda to confirm their resignation, which, if accepted, will leave the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in a minority.

Ten rebel Karnataka lawmakers, heavily protected by policemen, briskly walked to the Speaker's chamber in the state assembly Vidhana Souda to confirm their resignation, which, if accepted, will leave the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in a minority.

Jul 11, 2019 19:08 (IST) Karnataka Political Crisis: "They cannot say that I left after getting news. I did not know before," says Karnataka speaker



"They cannot say that I left after getting the news. I did not know before," said Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar.



Jul 11, 2019 19:07 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: "They never gave me prior notification," says Karnataka Speaker on rebel lawmakers



The rebel lawmakers have submitted their resignations. They submitted them on the 6th. I was unavailable for personal reasons. They came at 2.30 pm but never gave me prior notification to meet, speaker Ramesh Kumar told the media in Kannada.



Jul 11, 2019 19:04 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: Karnataka speaker addressed the media



"It is not my duty to say who will leave and who will stay," says Karnataka speaker Ramesh Kumar.



Jul 11, 2019 18:53 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: Karnataka rebel lawmakers wrote their resignation letters in front of the assembly speaker



Karnataka's rebel lawmakers have written their resignation letters in front of the assembly speaker: local media

Jul 11, 2019 18:46 (IST) READ HERE: "No Point Blaming BJP, Fault Within": Congress Media Coordinator Quits

Karnataka Political Crisis: Amid a leadership vacuum in the Congress, its national media coordinator Rachit Seth on Thursday resigned from the post saying there was no meaning holding any post after Rahul Gandhi quit as President. Karnataka Political Crisis: Amid a leadership vacuum in the Congress, its national media coordinator Rachit Seth on Thursday resigned from the post saying there was no meaning holding any post after Rahul Gandhi quit as President.

Jul 11, 2019 18:45 (IST) READ HERE: Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar Meets Rebel Lawmakers On Supreme Court Orders

Ten rebel Karnataka lawmakers, heavily protected by policemen, walked into the state assembly to meet the Speaker and confirm their resignation, which, if accepted, will leave the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in a minority. Ten rebel Karnataka lawmakers, heavily protected by policemen, walked into the state assembly to meet the Speaker and confirm their resignation, which, if accepted, will leave the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in a minority.

Jul 11, 2019 18:36 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: BJP alleges Karnataka minister took "nearly Rs 500 crore" bribes to promote officers: news agency ANI



In a letter addressed to the Karnataka Governor, the BJP alleged minister HD Revanna took bribes amounting to "nearly Rs 500 crore" to promote or transfer officers between July 1 and July 10.



"PWD Minister HD Revanna has directed the additional chief secretary to PWD Sri Krishna Reddy to promote about 800 engineer officers in PWD, Irrigation, RDPR department and issue posting to their choice especially those belong to Gowda community by descending and accepting huge and large amount bribes involving about 50 crores in one day," the letter read, reported news agency ANI.



Calling Mr Revanna a de-facto Chief Minister, the BJP said that he was issuing "illegal promotions" and transfers for all departments, demanding crores of bribes.



Jul 11, 2019 18:14 (IST) Rebel lawmakers go inside the Karnataka Speaker's room. #WATCH Karnataka: Rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs reach Speaker's office in Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/K3U8k8BmAo - ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2019 Rebel lawmakers go inside the Karnataka Speaker's room.

Jul 11, 2019 18:10 (IST) Congress Chief whip in assembly Ganesh Hukkeri issues whip to party legislators to attend tomorrow's session to pass the finance bill and other matters, failing which absentees will be disqualified under the anti-defection law, according to news agency ANI.

Jul 11, 2019 18:05 (IST) Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar says: "I am a citizen of this country, and a all of us respect the Supreme Court... I am duty-bound to meet the rebel lawmakers. Can't say whether any decision will be taken today or not."

Jul 11, 2019 18:01 (IST) Karnataka Speaker Reaches Assembly

The Speaker, Ramesh Kumar, has reached the assembly and will meet the rebel lawmakers shortly. Ten Karnataka lawmakers who allege their resignations haven't been accepted in an attempt to help the ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition in the state flew to Bengaluru this evening after the Supreme Court ordered them to meet the Speaker.

The top court has ordered police protection for the rebel lawmakers and said the Speaker must decide today on whether the resignations stand.

Jul 11, 2019 15:59 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: "Will Meet Speaker At 4 pm," Says Rebel Karnataka Lawmaker

The rebel Karnataka lawmakers, who are staying at a Mumbai hotel, said they would meet the state assembly speaker on Thursday, as directed by the Supreme Court, but would not withdraw their resignations. The rebel Karnataka lawmakers, who are staying at a Mumbai hotel, said they would meet the state assembly speaker on Thursday, as directed by the Supreme Court, but would not withdraw their resignations.

Jul 11, 2019 15:54 (IST) See Here: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Congress's DK Shivakumar inspect security at Vidhana Soudha: news agency ANI



Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Congress leader DK Shivakumar and others inspect security arrangement at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, reported news agency ANI.



The rebel MLAs have been directed by the Supreme Court to meet Karnataka assembly speaker at 6 pm today & resubmit their resignations.





Jul 11, 2019 15:42 (IST) Karnataka Crisis: Karnataka Rebel lawmakers, in Mumbai, fly back to Bengaluru



Sixteen Karnataka rebel MLAs staying at a luxury hotel in Mumbai flew back to Bengaluru Thursday afternoon to meet the Assembly Speaker, according to a PTI report, quoting sources.



The legislators boarded a special flight to the Karnataka capital at 2.50 pm, the sources said.



The development came 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.



Jul 11, 2019 14:52 (IST)

Rebel Congress lawmakers reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Rebel Congress lawmakers reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Jul 11, 2019 13:40 (IST) Rebel K'taka Congress MLA ST Somashekar: Our support is there with this govt, to respect our leader Rahul Gandhi. But commitment made by the coalition govt couldn't satisfy us. We didn't taken this decision all of a sudden, we had even informed earlier, but they did not care. pic.twitter.com/drxINzQN4b - ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2019

Jul 11, 2019 11:53 (IST) Sonia, Rahul Gandhi Join Protests After Karnataka, Goa Congress Meltdown





Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi today joined a Congress protest at parliament a day after the party lost most of its lawmakers to the ruling BJP in Goa and came closer than ever to losing power in Karnataka following several resignations.

Congress lawmakers shouted slogans, holding up placards of "Save Democracy", accusing the BJP of "killing democracy" by luring away opposition lawmakers in various states.

"Instead of focusing on development and other issues, the BJP is disrupting work wherever there are elected governments and trying to finish off democracy," said Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi.

Jul 11, 2019 11:51 (IST) Karnataka Minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar in #Bengaluru: We have confidence that the MLAs will be with us. I hope they will come back and withdraw their resignation. #Karnatakapic.twitter.com/qmfqPsPRee - ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2019

Jul 11, 2019 11:30 (IST) Appear Before Speaker At 6 pm: Top Court To 10 Rebel Karnataka Lawmakers



Supreme Court asks 10 rebel Congress-JDS MLAs of Karnataka "to meet the Karnataka Assembly Speaker at 6pm today and submit their resignations "if they so wish."

The court also ordered the DGP of Karnataka to provide protection to all the rebel MLAs.

Jul 11, 2019 11:21 (IST) The Supreme Court says Karnataka Speaker has to take a decision in remaining part the day. The Court also ordered the DGP of Karnataka to provide protection to all the rebel MLAs and adjourned the hearing for tomorrow

Jul 11, 2019 10:22 (IST) Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Ray has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over political situation in Karnataka and Goa, reports news agency ANI.

Jul 11, 2019 10:08 (IST) Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar has issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, restricting the gathering of more than five persons and any form of protests within the two-km area around the Vidhana Soudha.

The police commissioner issued the orders on Wednesday night, taking into account intelligence inputs.

Jul 11, 2019 09:49 (IST) The Congress has imploded in neighbouring Goa. Ten out of 15 Congress lawmakers have split from the party in Goa and have merged with the ruling BJP.

"10 Congress MLAs, along with their Opposition Leader, have merged with the BJP. The strength of the BJP has now risen to 27. They had come for development of the state and their constituency. They have not put forward any condition, they have joined BJP unconditionally," Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

Jul 11, 2019 09:48 (IST) Much of the party's failure has been blamed on infighting, which has intensified in states like Punjab and Rajasthan, where it is in power.