Dissidents challenge show-cause notices

Dissidents challenge show-cause notices
PTI
BANGALORE, OCT 9
BJP rebels in Karnataka, who want Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to resign, today challenged the show-cause notices issued to them by Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah terming it as illegal, unconstitutional, motivated and devoid of jurisdiction and sought 7 days time to reply to it.
The rebels, in an application filed through their counsels, questioned the three-day deadline set by the Speaker to reply to the show-cause notice slapped on them on the basis of a complaint lodged by Yeddyurappa seeking their disqualification under provisions of Anti-defection law.
The Speaker had on October 7 served the notices to 11 BJP MLAs, a day after they submitted a letter to Governor H R Bhardwaj, withdrawing support to the Yeddyurappa government which faces a trust vote on Monday.
Bopaiah had asked the rebels to reply to the allegations levelled against them before October 10 by five pm, an action that evoked criticism from Opposition Congress, JD(S) and even the rebels.
The rebels, in their application, defended their action of withdrawing support to Yeddyurappa government, saying they were disillusioned with it after the government faced charges of corruption, nepotism and favouritism.
The withdrawal of support to the Government does not attract the provisions of the anti-defection laws under 10th schedule of the constitution, they argued.