Bengaluru, Jul 8: After expelling MLAs S R Srinivas and K Srinivas Gowda from the party's primary membership for "breach of discipline", the JD(S) on Friday petitioned the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker, seeking their disqualification as legislators.

Defying the party's directive, Srinivas and Gowda had voted against the party's official candidate D Kupendra Reddy in the June 10 Rajya Sabha election.

"Against two legislators S R Srinivas (Gubbi) and K Srinivas Gowda (Kolar), we have given a complaint to the Speaker and sought their disqualification. They have remained away from the party for sometime now, not attended legislature party meetings, and have been sharing a stage with Congress leaders and have openly expressed their desire to join that party," JD(S) Whip Venkat Rao Nadagouda said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, their activities attract action under the 10th schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law).

"We have submitted our complaint to the Speaker (Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri) with all the documents and the Speaker has assured that he will look into it and take necessary action in accordance with law," he added.

According to JD(S), Srinivas had cast his first preference vote to the BJP's Lahar Singh Siroya and the second preference vote to Congress' Mansoor Ali Khan, while Gowda voted for Khan first and then Siroya in the RS poll.

JD(S) State president C M Ibrahim had in June issued an order expelling both of them from the party.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.

The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.

The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.

“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.

“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.

Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.

Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.

Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.

“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.