I am Gauri NewsDesk

We all are aware of the developments happening in Karnataka. More than a dozen MLA’s have resigned. Speaker of assembly Mr. Ramesh Kumar has taken route to court and is supposedly weighing all the constitutional ways to either to accept the resignations or reject them.

Question is, do the general public too can have a say in the process? If they do, what can they do? Shouldn’t they have the right to know the true answers for the resignations? Who will be responsible if the resignations are accepted, who will bear the cost of re-elections?

In the wake of the resignation, defection and disqualification of MLAs, veteran writer Devanoor Mahadeva and freedom fighter HS Doreswamy have written a letter to the President of the Assembly. They are trying to assert the right of the common people. They say that the MLA´s who have resigned have shown no accountability to the people and have betrayed their voters.

To,

Honourable speaker

Karnataka Legislative Assembly

Bengaluru

Respected Sir,

Subject: When the MLA are selling their soul and our votes, the responsibility

of upholding the dignity of the state and the politics lies with us.

The political developments in the state are shocking to say the least. Defections are happening towards one particular party but, we feel that all the major political parties should take onus for these unfortunate developments. We know that our parliamentary democracy is not perfect. But the makers of our constitution had put faith in the future generations and had given some opportunities. To prevent unethical defections using those clauses, anti-defection law came to place in 1985. And in 2003, it got constitutional amendments.

But bypassing the law and violating the spirit of anti defection law, these MLAs resign from their position and gain much more power than they had immediately and then contest from different party. And the fact that our state Karnataka has shown the country this new short cut to violate the ethics makes our heads hang in shame. Today, another such situation has arrived in our state. As said above, all three major parties need to take responsibility for this.

Today, those who are changing the parties for the reasons of pressure, inducement or any other reasons known to them are also selling their souls and the votes that the voters have casted to them. Yes, it is true that the legislators do have the right to resign. But we should not be seeing this as just a technical issue but we need to see it as a part of public political code of conduct. There is no doubt that what is happening now is defection. Voters do not vote just for the candidates; they vote for the parties too. Many a times, even if the voters do not like the candidates, they go ahead and vote for the particular candidate because of the party they are representing. And the voters vote them for a period of five years. It is the responsibility of the voters to do justice for it. Except for death and ill health, it is irresponsibility to cite any other reasons for resignations. What is happening now is not just irresponsibility it is betrayal. A rule which prohibits such resigning legislators to contest elections and to hold any office of power for 6 years should be brought.

This libertinism is an act of uprooting the anti defection law while being under the very law; it is rats destroying their own den. Speaker must take this with utmost seriousness.

Due to these developments, soul of the political system has come under another severe attack. And we appeal you to take all the actions to make it right. We appeal you, the one who is sitting in such responsible position, not to come to any decision in a hurry or which can be termed as wrong irrespective of your personal orientation. And we request you to consider this as our complaint.

If needed, we have decided to approach to higher courts and appeal to judges who have the power and responsibility to uphold the constitution. And we sincerely hope that you, having constitutional power would take actions so that such situation does not arise.

Thanks and Regards

Yours sincerely

Devanoora Mahadeva and HS Doreswamy