Congress MLA Anand Singh attends Karnataka joint session, 10 MLAs abstain

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Bengaluru, Feb 6, 2019: Vijayanagar MLA Anand Singh, who was hurriedly discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, attended the joint session accompanied by CLP leader Siddaramaiah and Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan.

Singh, who has sustained an eye injury was seen sporting dark glasses. The MLA, who has accused Kampli MLA J N Ganesh of assaulting him at the Eagleton Resort on January 20, said that he will not withdraw his complaint. The MLA claimed he got himself discharged from the hospital as he wanted to go home. "I am getting better. I have however been advised to rest. I will not leave Congress - I am very much with the party. Nobody from Ganesh’s family has contacted me asking me to withdraw my complaint," he added while exiting the House during the obituary reference.

Nearly 10 ruling party MLAs have absented themselves from the joint session. As expected four disgruntled MLAs - Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Umesh G Jadhav (Chincholi), B Nagendra (Bellary), Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani) - who have all been issued show cause notices by the Congress did not attend the session.

Two Independent MLAs H Nagesh (Mulbagal) and R Shankar (Ranebennur), who have withdrawn support from the government, too were not to be seen.

In addition to these, other disgruntled Congress MLAs like Basanagouda Daddal (Raichur Rural), B C Patil (Hirekerur), Paratapgouda Patil (Maski), Ramalinga Reddy (BTM Layout), his daughter Sowmya Reddy (Jayanagar) too have absented themselves from the session. Interestingly, JD(S) MLA Narayan Gowda (K R Pet) was among the absentee MLAs.

Kampli MLA J N Ganesh, who is facing attempt to murder charges for attacking Vijayanagar MLA Anand Singh, too gave the session a skip. The police are yet to arrest the MLA.