Karnataka: 4 BJP MLAs, 2 MPs suspended

BANGALORE: After much dilly-dallying, the state BJP finally suspended two MPs and four legislators who had defied the party diktat by openly supporting Independent candidate B Sriramulu in the coming November 30 Bellary byelection.State BJP president K S Eshwarappa on Friday had issued notices to MLAs G Somashekhar Reddy, Suresh Babu, Nagendra and MLC Mrutyunjay Jinaga asking them why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them for their alleged anti-party activities. “We found that you are campaigning for Sriramulu despite the official candidate Gadhilingappa being in the fray. It is nothing but anti-party activity,” Eshwarappa said in the letter.All legislators against whom notices had been served, were given three days’ time to file their replies. However, the party decided to suspend them late Friday night.The party, which had also decided to recommend to the party parliamentary board to initiate action against Bellary MP J Shanta and Raichur MP Sanna Fakkirappa for backing Sriramulu, suspended the two after a go-ahead from the central leadership.Earlier, reacting to the notices, Somashekhar Reddy said he would continue to be with Sriramulu.