BJP's trust-vote win in Karnataka unconstitutional: Digvijay

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh today termed as "unconstitutional", BJP government in Karnataka winning a vote of confidence by voice vote after the Speaker disqualified 16 MLAs hours before the trial of strength in the Assembly.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Monday termed as "unconstitutional", BJP government in Karnataka winning a vote of confidence by voice vote after the Speaker disqualified 16 MLAs hours before the trial of strength in the Assembly.

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"It is totally unconstitutional as disqualification is only possible when elected members of the House (MLAs in this case) defy the party whip," Singh told reporters in Nagpur.

Karnataka Speaker K G Bopaiah signed the disqualification order last night stating the 16 MLAs have been disqualified under the provision of the anti-defection law as envisaged in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

Stressing that the anti-defection law does not apply for rebel Karnataka MLAs in this case, Singh said, "Since the MLAs were not allowed to enter the House and not even voted either way, the disqualification was illegal."

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa "won" the vote of confidence in the Assembly after the Speaker disqualified 16 MLAs, including 11 of BJP, hours before the trial of strength.

Singh also defended party colleague Rahul Gandhi's statement, describing the RSS as "fanatical" and equating it with banned terror outfit SIMI.

"Some members of RSS parivar were involved in terror activities including in Malegaon blast and Ajmer. Similarly, SIMI men were involved in some blast cases including the 1992 serial blasts in Mumbai. Therefore, both the organisations are fanatical," Singh said.