Patel seeks ministers8217; disqualification

BANGALORE, February 13: Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel today sought disqualification of three former ministers, who recently joined the Rashtreeya Navanirmana Vedike, the apolitical front of Ramakrishna Hegde, from membership of the House.

In a petition to Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar, Patel sought action under the anti-defection law against R V Deshpande, Ramesh Jigajinagi and Ajaykumar Sarnaik, who had switched over to the Hegde camp but had remained in the Janata Dal.

Jigajinagi and Sarnaik have been fielded as candidates of Lok Shakti, the Hegde8217;s political outfit, in Chikkodi and Bagalkot Lok Sabha Constituencies respectively.

Talking to mediapersons before embarking on an election tour today, Patel who is also Janata Dal Legislative Party leader said he had sent the petition 8220;with documentary evidence8221; to the Speaker for initiating action under the Anti-Defection Act.