Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 19: Outgoing speaker, K B Koliwad, has dismissed petition moved by JD(S) party seeking disqualification of its seven legislators for violating the party whip and cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha election held in 2016 from the assembly.

In his order, Koliwad observed that the issue of disqualifying the above members of the legislative council is now irrelevant and invalid as the 14th legislative assembly stands dissolved. Therefore, he said in the order that the petition has been dismissed. This was stated by the assembly secretary, S Murthy.

Murthy noted that K G Bopaiah has taken oath as pro tem speaker at 3.40 pm on Saturday. However, as the governor has stated that Bopaiah would be speaker from the 19th of this month, Koliwad will continue to serve as speaker of the assembly till midnight on May 18.

Out of the seven MLAs facing threat of disqualification, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Akhanda Srinviasamurthy and Bheema Naik, have won the election again this time while others have tasted defeat. Koliwad has with the above order, relieved these three MLAs from the threat of disqualification.