2 more Karnataka MLAs submit resignations to Speaker

In a fresh jolt to the wobbly Congress-Janata Dal-Secular coalition government in Karnataka, two Congress legislators, Housing Minister M T B Nagaraj and K Sudhakar, tendered their resignation on Wednesday to the assembly speaker, taking the number of disgruntled MLAs who have put in their papers to 16.

The ruling coalition faces the threat of losing majority in the assembly if the resignations are accepted as its current tally is 116 in the 224-member House.

Confirming the resignations, Speaker Ramesh Kumar told reporters, "Yes, Sudhakar and M T B Nagaraj have resigned."

They handed over their resignations at the Speaker's chamber in Vidhana Soudha, the State secretariat.

After tendering his resignation, Nagaraj told reporters that he was "fed up" with politics and wished to retire from public life.

"I don't want any ministerial position or anything. I am fed up with politics," Nagaraj said.

Nagaraj and Sudhakar, who is State Pollution Control Board Chairman, came to the Speaker's office about 4 pm and handed over resignation in their official letterhead to him.

Of the 16 MLAs who have resigned, 13 are from Congress and three from JD-S.

The coalition's total strength is 116 (Congress-78, JD-S-37 and BSP-1), besides the Speaker.

With the support of the two independents, who on Monday resigned from the ministry, the Bharatiya Janata Party has 107 MLAs in the 224-member House, where the half-way mark is 113.

If the resignations of the 16 MLAs are accepted, the coalition's tally will be reduced to 100.