The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the disqualification of 17 rebel Karnataka MLAs by former Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar but allowed the legislators to contest the bypolls slated on December 5.
In an interim order in July, the Supreme Court had said that Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar was free to decide on resignations of the rebel MLAs.
Soon after Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa won the confidence motion on Monday, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar tendered his resignation.
Earlier on Sunday, Yediyurappa had said that he was '100 per cent confident' of proving majority in the House.
After a long tug of war between the coalition government and the BJP, which also reached the Supreme court, the Karnataka government fell on Tuesday after a trust vote to prove its majority.
Amid high drama, Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar adjourned the House nearly at midnight to meet again on Tuesday at 10 am after directing Kumaraswamy to hold the floor test by 6 pm.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has already missed two deadlines set by Governor Vajubhai Vala on Friday to prove majority of the coalition government.
Following the second deadline, Kumaraswamy said that he has respect for the Governor, but that the second 'love' letter had hurt him.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had on Thursday written to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy asking him to prove majority of the government on the floor of the House by 1:30 pm today.
Earlier, as soon as the trust motion was moved by Kumaraswamy, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa said the trust vote process should be completed in a single day.
