Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 6: R Shankar, KPJP MLA from Ranebennur, who was disqualified by the assembly speaker under defection law, expressed the confidence that the Supreme Court will not uphold the order of the speaker disqualifying him from the assembly membership. He said he expects to get justice from the top court.

Speaking to media persons at the residence of Ramesh Jarkiholi here on Monday August 5, he said that his constituency will not go for bypoll. He pointed out that he had submitted a letter to the speaker, about merging his party, KPJP, with the Congress but the speaker had asked him to provide suitable documents before a decision could be taken. "I did not provide the documents. The speaker disqualified me without making sure that formalities of merger had been completed and when issue was still pending. Therefore, I continue as an independent legislator," he claimed.

The disqualified MLAs met chief minister, Yediyurappa, and his son, B Y Vijayendra, separately and held discussions. Ramesh Jarkiholi and R Shankar held discussions with Yediyurappa immediately after he returned after conducting aerial survey of flood-hit areas in north Karnataka. Roshan Baig and Munirtha met Vijayayendra and held discussions. It is said that they discussed the issues of legal battle in Supreme Court and ministry formation.