Karnataka speaker KR Ramesh resigns

Bangalore : Karnataka Assembly speaker KR Ramesh on Monday resigned from his post soon after BS Yeddyurappa won the trust vote.

"I have decided to relieve myself from this office...I have decided to resign," said Ramesh Kumar before handing over his resignation letter to the Deputy Speaker Krishna Reddy.

Ramesh Kumar was in focus for the ongoing political controversy in Karnataka that eventually led to the collapse of HD Kumaraswamy government. In the wake of resignation by rebel MLAs, Ramesh Kumar's role was crucial in sailing the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government through the crisis.

Firstly, he delayed acceptance of the resignations by the rebel MLAs, who alleged that the speaker was looking for an excuse to disqualify them. Ramesh Kumar, on the other hand, held that under the anti-defection law, he should be absolutely convinced that the MLAs had resigned voluntarily.

Ramesh Kumar also faced severe criticism over the manner in which floor test was held for the Kumaraswamy government. The debate on the floor test went on for four days interrupted by weekends break even though the Opposition members did not participate in it.

On Sunday, Ramesh Kumar had disqualified 17 rebel MLAs for the entire tenure of the current Karnataka Assembly.