Bengaluru: Turmoil continues to plague the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka with attempts to fix the situation going in vain.

After the 11 rebel MLAs were a no-show at the CLP meeting held at the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, July 9, the situation continued to worsen for the state government. CLP leader and former CM Siddaramaiah has sought legal action against the rebel MLAs and demanded that they not be allowed to contest in elections for the next six years.

According to a report by ANI, he told reporters, “We will request the Speaker to take legal action under the anti-defection law. We will ask him to not only disqualify them but to also bar them from contesting in the elections for the next six years.”

Meanwhile, another MLA, Roshan Baig resigned from his post, however, he stated that he would continue to remain with the Congress party. He was among those who were absent from the CLP meeting held earlier today. It can be recalled that he was suspended from the party on June 19 for ‘anti-party’ activities.

Speaking about their intentions, Congress leaders S T Somashekar, one of the rebel leaders who are at present in Mumbai, said that the ten MLAs that have submitted their resignations are still with the Congress party. ANI quoted him as saying, “We are still in the Congress party, but have only resigned from the MLA post. We do not expect any ministerial berths. The people of Karnataka don’t like a ‘Maitri’ (coalition) government.”