The coalition government in Karnataka got a breather, when the assembly speaker adjourned hearing on a plea seeking disqualification of 40 Janata Dal-Secular legislators.

The hearing was adjourned after JD-S chief H D Deve Gowda who was to depose before the speaker sought time through his lawyer. Speaker Krishna said that the next date of hearing would be on November 24.

It is in the best interest of both the JD-S and the BJP that hearing on the petition gets delayed. If the speaker were to allow the petition, not only will the government collapse, but the JD-S MLAs would be disqualified from contesting the elections for the next six years.

Meanwhile, the petitioners comprising a couple of independent MLAs have warned of approaching the high court if the hearing is unnecessarily delayed. They pointed out that the petition was filed almost 21 months back and not much progress has taken place. The petition has been filed on the basis of a letter written by Deve Gowda to the then governor asking him not to recognise the government formed by his son and the BJP as the former did not enjoy the support of the party.