The Lok Sabha website still shows the names of B.S. Yeddyurappa and B Sriramulu as MPs from Karnataka. This, despite both MPs having resigned from their seats on May 19, before they were sworn in as MLAs in Bengaluru on Saturday. Bulletins were also issued by the Speaker about acceptance of both the resignations.
NewsCentral24X7 has now learnt that the Speaker’s office is somehow trying to ‘reverse’ the two resignations. Frantic enquiries have been made with the officials to find ways in which these resignations can be reversed after a bulletin has been issued. The Lok Sabha Secretariat is known to have advised the Speaker’s office that this ‘reversal’ is not possible.
Despite the issuance of the bulletin, the Lok Sabha Secretariat website continues to show just five vacancies even now. Although NewsCentral24X7 has not been able to confirm this, many Twitter users say that the website was showing seven vacancies earlier in the day before reverting to five in the evening.
Earlier today when I checked LS website, it showed 7 Vacant seats including Yeddy & Sreeramulu from Karnataka.
Now it shows 5, BJP’s tally is back up to 274 and Yeddy & Sree are back in the Karnataka list of MPs. @LokSabhaSectt , what happened here? pic.twitter.com/mBt4r5TZJU
— Deepa Kumar (@dipaah) May 21, 2018
Dear ECI,
1 @BSYBJP & sreeramulu resigned from LS to take oath as MLAs at Karnataka assembly.
2 They failed to form the government even after swearing in.
3 LS website is updated and silently their resignations are revoked.
Is this constitutional to be MLA & MP at same time? pic.twitter.com/zCqtVMByCd
— Иаяеибяа Мобi Гаи (@DrSaniaMaan) May 21, 2018
This confusion could be emanating from the possibility that the Speaker’s office is somehow still exploring if a window exists under which the two resignations may be now returned, despite the bulletin having been issued.
After the resignation of these MPs, the number of BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha has slipped from 282 in 2014, to 271, minus the Speaker. This still gives them the majority in the Lok Sabha (as the total current members in the Lok Sabha are 538 and the majority mark is 269), yet, losses in the two by polls due on May 28, would mean that they could be perilously close to losing the majority. Also, having less than 272 seats has optical significance for a party keen on image, projections and conveying an aura of ‘invincibility’ before 2019. After all, the party had fought the 2014 general elections with a Mission 272.
Sources say that the Lok Sabha may still be able to effect a ‘reversal’ of the resignation, though it goes against all norms and conventions. This could be done by pointing out to some procedural loopholes in the way the resignations were written and submitted. The possibility of using such an excuse does exist and could be explored.
Sources say that the Speaker could seek a legal opinion from the Attorney General, as she did in the case of denying the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, the post of the Leader of the Opposition. The Secretariat then too advised that having 10% of the seats was not a necessary criterion, but in an unusual move, ’advice’ from the then Attorney General, Mukul Rohtagi was sought and the leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, was denied the post.