BENGALURU/ NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said rebel Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) legislators cannot be forced to attend the trust vote, scheduled to be held on Thursday in the Karnataka assembly. The apex court’s order prompted a furious response from Congress, which accused the apex court of undermining the party whip and setting a “terrible judicial precedent". “SC’s order nullifying the Whip & by extension, operation of Constitution’s Xth Schedule to punish MLA’s betraying the public mandate, sets a terrible judicial precedent!" Ramesh Kumar is yet to accept the resignations, the rebels have said they do not want to take part in the trust vote. If the rebels stay away from the proceedings and subsequent trust vote, the coalition will remain at 100 (excluding the speaker) as against the BJP’s 107, that includes the support of two independents.

Source: Mint July 17, 2019 19:30 UTC