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The 15 MLAs who brought down Kumaraswamy government

The HDK government, on tenterhooks since July 1, finally fell on Tuesday, with 15 rebels and two independents remaining firm on their decision to not support the trust vote. Here are the rebel 15 who stuck together to ensure the fall of a government.
The HDK government, on tenterhooks since July 1, finally fell on Tuesday, with 15 rebels and two independents remaining firm on their decision to not support the trust vote. Here are the rebel 15 who stuck together to ensure the fall of a government.
The HDK government, on tenterhooks since July 1, finally fell on Tuesday, with 15 rebels and two independents remaining firm on their decision to not support the trust vote. Here are the rebel 15 who stuck together to ensure the fall of a government.
Online Desk
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Muniratna (Rajarajeshwari Nagar) : Even when the other MLAs were holed up in a hotel in Mumbai, Munirathna flat out refused. He flew in and out of Bengaluru with impunity, knowing fully well he would never return. In fact, Munirathna has been unofficially on the BJP side for some time now, even trying to recruit D K Shivakumar at one point.
Muniratna (Rajarajeshwari Nagar) : Even when the other MLAs were holed up in a hotel in Mumbai, Munirathna flat out refused. He flew in and out of Bengaluru with impunity, knowing fully well he would never return. In fact, Munirathna has been unofficially on the BJP side for some time now, even trying to recruit D K Shivakumar at one point.
Roshan Baig (Shivaji Nagar) : The oddball of the group. Baig has no love lost for the BJP, but going by his recent outbursts, he has none to spare for the Congress either. The only reason one can fathom for his rebellion is a case of sour grapes, for not being given a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls and Zameer Ahmed Khan being given a ministry instead of him.
Roshan Baig (Shivaji Nagar) : The oddball of the group. Baig has no love lost for the BJP, but going by his recent outbursts, he has none to spare for the Congress either. The only reason one can fathom for his rebellion is a case of sour grapes, for not being given a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls and Zameer Ahmed Khan being given a ministry instead of him.
D R Sudhakar (Chikballapur) : A relatively new entrant, he was made to feel inferior when he was manhandled and physically restrained by his senior colleagues after he put in his papers. He fought a long and dirty battle to be made Chairman of the pollution board, including tacitly campaigning for the BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha polls against Veerappa Moily.
D R Sudhakar (Chikballapur) : A relatively new entrant, he was made to feel inferior when he was manhandled and physically restrained by his senior colleagues after he put in his papers. He fought a long and dirty battle to be made Chairman of the pollution board, including tacitly campaigning for the BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha polls against Veerappa Moily.
MBT Nagaraj (Hoskote) : A staunch Siddaramaiah loyalist, Nagaraj was made a minister in 2018, but even this did not satiate him. Nagaraj also gave the party a ray of hope when he spent a day saying he would withdraw his resignation, only to leave for Mumbai the first chance he got the next morning. Wealthy in his own right, the MLA blamed H D Revanna for his exit.
MBT Nagaraj (Hoskote) : A staunch Siddaramaiah loyalist, Nagaraj was made a minister in 2018, but even this did not satiate him. Nagaraj also gave the party a ray of hope when he spent a day saying he would withdraw his resignation, only to leave for Mumbai the first chance he got the next morning. Wealthy in his own right, the MLA blamed H D Revanna for his exit.
Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layour) : According to Kumaraswamy, Gopalaiah betrayed him not once but twice. Once singled out for cross-voting, he managed to return to the party, enlisting the help of a priest to convince the Gowda family. The second time around, he tried to aid his brother, involved in a murder case and when Kumaraswamy, didn’t listen, he chose the other side.
Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layour) : According to Kumaraswamy, Gopalaiah betrayed him not once but twice. Once singled out for cross-voting, he managed to return to the party, enlisting the help of a priest to convince the Gowda family. The second time around, he tried to aid his brother, involved in a murder case and when Kumaraswamy, didn’t listen, he chose the other side.
A H Vishwanath (Hunsar) : In terms of political power, Vishwanath was a nobody before the JDS fielded him from Hunsur and ensured his victory. He was made the state president of the party, but continued to remain in the background till he decided to rebel in style, lashing out at everyone, including his one-time friend Siddaramaiah.
A H Vishwanath (Hunsar) : In terms of political power, Vishwanath was a nobody before the JDS fielded him from Hunsur and ensured his victory. He was made the state president of the party, but continued to remain in the background till he decided to rebel in style, lashing out at everyone, including his one-time friend Siddaramaiah.
Narayan Gowda (K R Pet) : A businessman, Narayan Gowda’s claims that he was forced to pay for borewells in his constituency out of his own pocket came up for special mention by H D Kumaraswamy in his speech just before the vote. Skipped session in February this year citing food poisoning, maybe a trial run?
Narayan Gowda (K R Pet) : A businessman, Narayan Gowda’s claims that he was forced to pay for borewells in his constituency out of his own pocket came up for special mention by H D Kumaraswamy in his speech just before the vote. Skipped session in February this year citing food poisoning, maybe a trial run?
Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak) : Jarkiholi, known popularly as the Gokak Sahukar, will also earn the tag of ‘chief rebel’ after the fall of the Kumaraswamy government. Seeing the government fall is sweet redemption for what he believes was a grave injustice done to him when a group headed by his former ‘protege’, MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar, won the PLD bank elections.
Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak) : Jarkiholi, known popularly as the Gokak Sahukar, will also earn the tag of ‘chief rebel’ after the fall of the Kumaraswamy government. Seeing the government fall is sweet redemption for what he believes was a grave injustice done to him when a group headed by his former ‘protege’, MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar, won the PLD bank elections.
Mahesh Kumtahalli (Athani) : If Ramesh is the ‘chief rebel’, Kumtahalli is his trusted lieutenant. Through him, Ramesh maintained his stronghold over Belagavi as Athani is the industrial belt for the region. While Ramesh openly campaigned for the BJP in the LS polls, Kumtahalli carried out a more behind-the-scenes campaign against his party candidate Dr Sadhunavar.
Mahesh Kumtahalli (Athani) : If Ramesh is the ‘chief rebel’, Kumtahalli is his trusted lieutenant. Through him, Ramesh maintained his stronghold over Belagavi as Athani is the industrial belt for the region. While Ramesh openly campaigned for the BJP in the LS polls, Kumtahalli carried out a more behind-the-scenes campaign against his party candidate Dr Sadhunavar.
S T Somashekar (Yeshwantpur) : This MLA from Bengaluru was given one of the most coveted posts among boards and corporations, that of Chairman, BDA. He still chose the rebel camp instead and left for Mumbai. Somashekar maintained that there was no turning back for him.
S T Somashekar (Yeshwantpur) : This MLA from Bengaluru was given one of the most coveted posts among boards and corporations, that of Chairman, BDA. He still chose the rebel camp instead and left for Mumbai. Somashekar maintained that there was no turning back for him.
Anand Singh (Vijayanagar) : Was one of the first to resign along with Ramesh. Ostensibly in protest against JSW deal, but also was a BJP member earlier. A sort of home coming for the MLA perhaps to escape reconciliation efforts by Ganesh, who attacked him at a resort and has been trying to make amends for some time now.
Anand Singh (Vijayanagar) : Was one of the first to resign along with Ramesh. Ostensibly in protest against JSW deal, but also was a BJP member earlier. A sort of home coming for the MLA perhaps to escape reconciliation efforts by Ganesh, who attacked him at a resort and has been trying to make amends for some time now.
Pratap Gouda Patil (Maski) : One of the first to approach the SC, He was lambasted by HDK for claiming that no funds were allotted for Maski. HDK claimed Rs 517 crore was allotted to his constituency. Maybe what Pratap was hoping for instead was a cabinet allocation?
Pratap Gouda Patil (Maski) : One of the first to approach the SC, He was lambasted by HDK for claiming that no funds were allotted for Maski. HDK claimed Rs 517 crore was allotted to his constituency. Maybe what Pratap was hoping for instead was a cabinet allocation?
B C Patil (Hirekepur) : Patil for the longest time said that there was no chance he would leave Congress. He even released an audio, purportedly of Yeddyurappa offering him a ministry berth in return for his support during BSY’s own floor test in 2018. His reason this time? No funds for Hirekerur.
B C Patil (Hirekepur) : Patil for the longest time said that there was no chance he would leave Congress. He even released an audio, purportedly of Yeddyurappa offering him a ministry berth in return for his support during BSY’s own floor test in 2018. His reason this time? No funds for Hirekerur.
Shivaram Hebbar (Yellapur) : Hebbar is one of four Congress MLAs from the Brahmin community in Karnataka. While one is the Speaker, the other is KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and the third, minister R V Deshpande. Hebbar had no such luck. However, his official reason is similar to others, no funds for his constituency. CM, however, said over Rs 400 crore was allotted to Yellapur.
Shivaram Hebbar (Yellapur) : Hebbar is one of four Congress MLAs from the Brahmin community in Karnataka. While one is the Speaker, the other is KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and the third, minister R V Deshpande. Hebbar had no such luck. However, his official reason is similar to others, no funds for his constituency. CM, however, said over Rs 400 crore was allotted to Yellapur.
Byrathi Basavaraj (K R Puram) : Another MLA from Bengaluru and the blue eyed boy of former chief minister Siddaramaiah. A realtor, Basavaraj is wealthy enough to not change sides for money, especially considering he spent five years as part of Siddaramaiah’s inner circle. His resignation came as a surprise to many.
Byrathi Basavaraj (K R Puram) : Another MLA from Bengaluru and the blue eyed boy of former chief minister Siddaramaiah. A realtor, Basavaraj is wealthy enough to not change sides for money, especially considering he spent five years as part of Siddaramaiah’s inner circle. His resignation came as a surprise to many.
Karnataka
Karnataka rebel MLAs
Karnataka Political Crisis
JDS Congress coalition
Karnataka JDS

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