Bengaluru: Congress leader and Cabinet Minister DK Shivakumar and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Shivalinge Gowda arrived in Mumbai in a special flight to meet the rebel MLAs from their respective parties today. Ahead of their visit to Mumbai, the dissident MLAs have sought protection from the Mumbai Police saying that they don’t want to meet their party leaders.  

The Karnataka Congress strongman was stopped from entering the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel by Mumbai Police today and his booking was also cancelled. 

In a letter addressed to the Mumbai Police chief Sanjay Barve, ten rebel MLAs from the Congress-JD(S) coalition have said that they feel threatened as they have heard that Shivakumar will storm the hotel premises.

The 13-month old Congress-JDS government is staring at a political crisis after 11 MLAs resigned from the membership of the state Assembly last Saturday.

Yesterday, Congress leader Roshan Baig also resigned from the state Assembly.

 

Karnataka Crisis – As it happened: 

9 pm: ‘These meetings are going to continue’

The meeting held by senior Congress leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad and Siddaramaiah, has ended in Bengaluru. The meeting was convened to discuss the fresh resignations by 2 more Congress MLAs, K Sudhakar and MTB Nagaraj. “A lot of action is coming up. These meetings are going to continue,” Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao said.

 

 

8:45 pm: Karnataka BJP MLA urges Governor to intervene

“I urge the Governor to intervene and oust this Kumaraswamy government. I urge Kumaraswamy, if you continue with Congress your image will be totally tarnished. In good wisdom, resign and vacate the office,” BJP MLA Basavaraj Bommai said.

 

 

8:30 pm: Senior Congress leaders meet to discuss 2 more resignations

Senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, KC Venugopal, Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara, Siddaramaiah, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Eshwara Khandre and others are currently holding a meeting following the resignations of 2 more Congress MLAs, K Sudhakar and MTB Nagaraj.

8:15 pm: BJP MLA from Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai, calls it the ‘dark day in the history of Karnataka’

“It’s a black day in the history of Karnataka democracy. A ruling party’s MLA (Sudhakar) has been assaulted by his own party president, minister and colleagues. They tried to put pressure on him. He, as an MLA, could not work independently. Hence, there is a gundaraj in state,” he told news agency ANI.

7:45 pm: Former Karnataka CM accuses BJP of hooliganism, attacks Shah-Modi

Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah fumed over the current state of affairs in the state and said that the JD(S)-Congress government hasn’t taken law into their hands, instead the BJP has done so. “They have taken law into their hands. I condemn it. They do not have any right. They have not created any law and order problem. They are just your friends. He is one of my well-wishers. I was talking to him (K Sudhakar). They have behaved like goons. They are real goons. It is not the Congress party which has conducted themselves like goons.” 

He accused the BJP of engaging in horse-trading and buying out MLAs in the government, taking direct potshots at Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “It is quite evident that the BJP is behind all these things. It is Amit Shah behind all these things. It is Narendra Modi behind all these things. It is they who are defecting all our MLAs by offering money, power, positions and threatening them. They are using the Income Tax department, Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation to threaten our MLAs… This is murder of democracy. The BJP is anti-democratic, anti-Constitutional, anti-system. We don’t care about these goons, we fight them out,” he said.

7 pm: Siddaramaiah meets Sudhakar at Vidhan Soudha

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah later today met Congress MLA K Sudhakar, who had tendered his resignation from the post of MLA. They met at Karnataka minister KG George’s office in Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru.

 

 

6:45 pm: Shivakumar confident JD(S)-Congress govt will survive

Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar in Mumbai said that he is still confident all of the defected MLAs will return to the fold. “The Congress-JD(S) government will be safe. None of them is leaving the party,” Shivakumar said, according to ANI.

6:30 pm: Law will take its own course: Karnataka Speaker

“Today, 2 more MLAs, K Sudhakar and MTB Nagaraj, have resigned… As far as other MLAs are concerned, the law will take its own course. The law cannot deviate from person to person, it is uniform for one and all,” Karnataka Speaker.

6:15 pm: Deora released, Shivakumar being forcefully sent to Bengaluru

Milind Deora and other Congress leaders have been released by Mumbai Police. However, the police is taking Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivkumar to the airport. He has apparently been forcibly sent back to Bengaluru, sources have said.

6 pm: Scuffle breaks out at Vidhan Soudha

A ruckus has broken out at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru amid the ongoing political tussle in Karnataka after several Congress MLAs resigned from the government last week.

 

 

5:45 pm: Kumaraswamy lashes out at Mumbai Police 

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy lashed out at the Mumbai Police for detaining several Congress leaders on Wednesday. “Manhandling Ministers and MLAs is very annoying and unbecoming of Mumbai Police. Such hasty act by the Maharashtra government reinforces the suspicion on BJP of horse trading. This is a black mark on the republic setup of our country,” he said in a post on Twitter.

 

 

5:30 pm: DK Shivakumar to address media at 7:30 pm

Karnataka government minister and Congress leader DK Shivkumar will address the media at 7:30 pm today at Kalina University Gate 1. Shivakumar and senior Congress leader Milind Deora, along with other Congress leaders who were detained earlier in the day by Mumbai Police, have been kept at Kalina University rest house.

5:15 pm: Rebel MLAs held captive by Congress minister

Rebel MLAs in the Karnataka government have claimed that they are being kept captive by Congress MLA KJ George. One of the rebel MLAs, Sudhakar, is allegedly being held captive by George.

 

 

5 pm: Speaker ‘not accepting resignations’

“I have not accepted any resignations as I cannot do it overnight like that… I have given them (MLAs who have tendered their resignations) time on July 17. I’ll go through the procedure and then take a decision,” Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar said, according to ANI.

 

 

4:45 pm: Detained Congress MLAs kept at Kalina University

Karnataka Minister and Congress MLA DK Shivakumar, senior Congress leader Milind Deora and other Congress leaders who were detained, have been kept at Kalina University rest house. They were sitting outside Renaissance – Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel when they were detained by police.

 

 

4:30 pm: Two Congress MLAs reach Speaker’s office

BJP MLA from Chikkamagaluru constituency, CT Ravi, reaches Karnataka speaker’s office but apparently did not speak to anybody. Congress MLAs MTB Nagaraj and Sudhakar have also arrived at the speaker’s office and are likely to tender their resignations.

3:20 pm: BJP delegation to meet Karnataka Assembly Speaker

A BJP delegation, including BS Yeddyurappa, arrives at the chamber of the Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, at Vidhana Soudha.

02:55 pm: Milind Deora, DK Shivakumar taken to University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus

Milind Deora and DK Shivkumar have been taken to University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus. 

02:35 pm: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar wants DK Shivakumar to be party president 

“This man is so brave. Without having the power he is so dedicated, I wish he becomes the next President of INC & will teach a real lesson to “Modi Baba 40 chor gang” + Tadipar,” tweeted Aiyar. 

 

 

02:31 pm: Deora, Shivakumar detained by Mumbai Police

Congress leader Milind Deora along with DK Shivkumar has been detained by Mumbai police outside Hotel Renaissance. Section 144 has already been imposed in the area.

02:15 pm: ‘Kumaraswamy has no moral right to continue as Chief Minister’

“I requested the Governor to convey to the speaker that he should take necessary action immediately. Kumaraswamy has no moral right to continue as Chief Minister, they don’t have the numbers,” said BS Yeddyurappa, BJP after meeting Karnataka Governor.

02:04 pm: Congress protests 

JD(S) Chief and Former PM HD Deve Gowda arrive at Congress protest site in Bengaluru, meets Ghulam Nabi Azad. Siddaramaiah and KC Venugopal also present.

 

 

02:00 pm: BJP playing dirty politics by misusing its power in Maharashtra: Milind Deora

“I am with DK Shivakumar outside the hotel. I request the Karnataka MLAs to return to Bangalore and resolve the matter in a constitutional manner. Section 144 has also been imposed here. The BJP is playing dirty politics by misusing its power in Maharashtra. It is their planned conspiracy,” Congress leader Milind Deora tweeted.

 

 

01: 45 pm: Reservation cancelled due to ‘some emergency’

Mumbai hotel had said that the reservation in Karnataka minister Shivakumar’s name was cancelled due to “some emergency.”

01:30 pm: Looks like there is martial law in Maharashtra: Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary

Looks like there is martial law in Maharashtra, a minister (Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar) who has a booking in the hotel (in Mumbai) is not allowed to enter inside(to meet rebel MLAs),” said Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary. 

 

 

12:55 pm: ‘BJP has no role in Karnataka crisis’

While the Congress has been constantly accusing the BJP of conspiring to topple Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his reply in Parliament, said that his party is committed to parliamentary democracy and has no relation with whatever is happening in Karnataka.

12:20 pm: HD Kumaraswamy should resign​: BSY

“12th July assembly session will begin but they don’t have the numbers, it will be an illegal session. It is not too late, Karnataka CM, HD Kumaraswamy should resign and make way for a BJP government,” said BS Yeddyurappa.

 

 

12:00 pm: Tearing up of resignations is a crime: BSY

“We will meet the Karnataka Assembly Speaker at 3 pm today. Speaker has still not condemned tearing up of resignations (of rebel MLAs) by DK Shivakumar. Tearing up of resignations is an ‘apradh’ that is unforgivable,” said BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa. 

11:35 am: Resignations must be accepted immediately: BSY

“We will meet the Governor and the Speaker. According to the speaker, 5 to 6 persons have submitted their resignation in the correct format. Then why is he delaying this? He must accept them immediately. I will talk to Ramesh Kumar,” said BS Yeddyurappa. 

11:20 am: BS Yeddyurappa holds protest outside Vidhana Soudha

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa and other BJP leaders hold a protest outside Vidhana Soudha in  Bengaluru.

11:06 am: Section 144 imposed near Mumbai hotel

Section 144 has been imposed near Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel to maintain the law and order situation.

11:01 am: Not interested in meeting DK Shivakumar: Karnataka Congress leader

“We are not interested in meeting Karnataka Minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar. No one from BJP is here to meet us,” said rebel Karnataka Congress leader, Ramesh Jarkiholi.

11:00 am: Don’t intend to insult DK Shivakumar: Congress’ B Basavaraj

“We don’t intend to insult DK Shivakumar. We’ve faith in him but there is a reason we have taken this step. Friendship, love and affection are on one side, with gratitude and respect we request him to understand why we cannot meet him today,” said rebel Congress leader Byrathi Basavaraj.

10:55 am: ‘Will not leave without meeting my friends’

“I’ll not go without meeting my friends. I can’t go by you (rebel Karnataka MLAs not ready to meet him), they’ll call me. Their heart will break. I’m in touch already, hearts of both of us are beating,” said Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar.

10:35 am: ‘I love this hotel. Let them cancel. I have other rooms also’

“They should be proud of a customer like me. I love Mumbai. I love this hotel. Let them cancel. I have other rooms also,” said Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar on Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel cancelling his booking.

10:20 am: Rebel MLAs move Supreme Court 

Karnataka rebel Congress and JD(S) leaders who have resigned from Assembly, move Supreme Court accusing the Speaker of abandoning his constitutional duty and deliberately delaying acceptance of their resignations. The apex court is set to hear the matter tomorrow.

10:00 am: Issue of defections being engineered to dislodge elected Governments

Rajeev Gowda (INC), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Ravi Prakash Verma (SP), D Raja (CPI) and TK Rangarajan (CPM) have given notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 for suspension of business and discuss on the issue of defections being engineered to dislodge elected Governments.

9:55 am: ‘There are no friends and no enemies in politics’

“Nothing is permanent in politics. There are no friends and no enemies. Anyone can turn at any moment. I’m trying to contact them (rebel MLAs). I’ll get a call. Their heart is beating to meet their friend,” said Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar.

9:30 am: Shivakumar has not booked any room: Hotel

Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel has stated that Congress leader and minister DK Shivakumar has not booked any room in the hotel. 

9:10 am: We do not want to meet Shivakumar: Rebel MLAs

Yesterday, the rebel MLAs had written a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner saying they don’t want to meet Shivakumar. Requesting the Commissioner to look into the matter they further said that he should not be allowed to enter the hotel premises.

8:55 am: BS Yeddyurappa to sit on dharna outside Vidhana Soudha

“We have decided to sit on dharna in front of Vidhana Soudha. We will meet the Speaker and the Governor,” said BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa.

8:51 am: MLAs want me to rescue them, claims DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar has claimed that he received a phone call from the rebel MLAs to come to Mumbai and rescue them. He also claimed that the BJP has locked the MLAs in the hotel.  

8:50 am: Mumbai Police escort DK Shivakumar from Renaissance Hotel

Police escort Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar away from the gates of Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel where 10 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs are staying. The MLAs had written to Police stating, “We’ve heard CM and DK Shivakumar are going to storm the hotel, we feel threatened.”

8:45 am: ‘Not carrying any weapons but only my heart’

“I have booked a room but due to a security threat, Mumbai cops are not allowing me to go inside. I am also not carrying any weapons. I have brought my heart here,” said Shivakumar.  

8:39 am: We can’t go for a divorce immediately: Shivakumar

“I have booked a room here. My friends are staying here. There has been a small problem and we’ve to hold negotiations. We can’t go for a divorce immediately. There is no question of threatening, we love and respect each other,” said DK Shivakumar. 

8:30 am: DK Shivakumar reaches hotel; ‘go back, go back’ slogans raised

Supporters of JD(S) leader Narayan Gowda outside Renaissance hotel raise slogans of “Go back, Go back” as Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar arrived at the hotel. 

8:15 am: DK Shivakumar currently on his way from the airport to the hotel

Heavy security deployed outside Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel where 10 rebel Karnataka Congress-JD(S) MLAs are staying. Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar is currently on his way from the airport to the hotel.

8:06 am: DK Shivakumar will not be allowed inside the hotel: Mumbai Police 

“Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar will not be allowed inside the hotel where 10 rebel Karnataka Congress-JD(S) MLAs are staying. He will not be stopped before the gates of the hotel,” said Mumbai Police.

 

 

8:00 am: ‘They are our party men. We have come to meet them’

“Let Mumbai Police or any other force be deployed. Let them do their duty. We’ve come to meet our friends. We were born together in politics; we will die together in politics. They are our party men. We have come to meet them,” said DK Shivakumar.

7:50 am: DK Shivakumar and JD(S) MLA Shivalinge Gowda reach Mumbai

Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar and JD(S) MLA Shivalinge Gowda have arrived in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Maharashtra State Reserve Police Force and Riot Control Police are deployed outside the hotel where 10 rebel Karnataka Congress-JD(S) MLAs are staying. 

7:30 am: BJP kidnapped our MLAs: Congress leader

Congress leader Zameer Ahmad has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of kidnapping their MLAs and keeping them at gunpoint. He also claimed that mobile phones of the Congress MLAs have been seized and they are not even allowed to talk to their family members.

7:20 am: DK Shivakumar, JD(S) leader Shivalinge Gowda leave for Mumbai

Congress leader Cabinet Minister DK Shivakumar and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Shivalinge Gowda have left for Mumbai to meet the rebel MLAs.