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The suspension bars these MLAs from entering the Assembly hall, lobby, and galleries, and also prohibits them from participating in meetings of the Standing Committees of the Legislature or Assembly of which they are members.
BJP MLAs being evicted by Marshals during the Budget session of Karnataka Assembly, in Bengaluru, Friday, March 21, 2025. (PTI Photo)
As the BJP intensified its demand for a judicial probe into the alleged honey trap involving 48 individuals, including Karnataka ministers, lawmakers, and “national” leaders, the situation took a drastic turn when 18 MLAs from the party were suspended on Friday by Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader for ‘indiscipline’ and ‘bringing down the dignity of the House.’
Dramatic visuals showed opposition BJP and JD(S) leaders storming the well of the Assembly, tearing papers, and throwing them towards the Speaker’s chair amid the uproar. The situation escalated further when protesting MLAs were physically removed by Assembly marshals, with some being carried out on their shoulders, following a major political showdown over the honey trap scandal.
The suspension order named BJP MLAs Dodna Gowda H. Patil (Chief Whip of the Opposition), Dr C.N. Ashwath Narayan, S.R. Vishwanath, B.A. Basavaraja, M.R. Patil, Channabasappa (Chennai), B. Suresh Gowda, Umanath A. Kotyan, Sharanu Salagara, Dr Shailendra Beldale, C.K. Ramamurthy, Yashpal A. Suvarna, B.P. Harish, Dr Bharat Shetty Y., Muniratna, Basavaraj Mattimood, Dheeraj Muniraju, and Dr Chandru Lamani, who have been suspended from the House for six months with immediate effect. The action was taken under Rule 348 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
The suspension bars these MLAs from entering the Assembly hall, lobby, and galleries, and also prohibits them from participating in meetings of the Standing Committees of the Legislature or Assembly of which they are members. Their names will not appear in the list of proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and any instructions issued by them during the suspension period will not be accepted. Additionally, they will not be allowed to vote in committee elections held during this time and will not be eligible for any daily allowance.
Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka lashed out at the government, calling the suspension “an insult to the legislature.” He accused the ruling party of protecting its own minister and demanded a CBI probe into the matter. “This government cannot even protect its own minister—how can it protect the people of the state? The Chief Minister should resign,” he declared, adding that the opposition would boycott the House until the suspensions were revoked.
BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra also weighed in on the issue. “This is not a small matter. It is not just about one minister; it concerns the integrity of the entire House. The Chief Minister should have shown the courage to instruct the minister to name those responsible for the crime,” he said.
The Karnataka Assembly’s budget session in recent days has been rocked by allegations of a large-scale honey trap scandal after Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna revealed that 48 individuals, including ministers, lawmakers, and ‘national’ leaders, were targeted. He claimed that explicit videos of some victims had been circulated, raising concerns over a deep-rooted blackmail network.
Rajanna stated in the Assembly that 48 pen drives containing compromising material had been prepared. “There are CDs and pen drives of 48 people available in the state. This network extends beyond Karnataka and operates across the country, with even Union ministers being targeted,” he said. Calling it a “dangerous menace,” he demanded a high-level inquiry led by a retired judge. “They attempted it on me too. I have evidence. I will file a complaint. Let it be revealed who is involved.”
Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi claimed that a cabinet colleague had been subjected to two unsuccessful honey trap attempts. “It is true that attempts were made, but they did not succeed. This is not the first time such incidents have occurred in Karnataka—it has been happening for the past 20 years. Every party, whether Congress, BJP, or JD(S), has been affected,” he said.
B.Y. Vijayendra highlighted that Rajanna had admitted on the Assembly floor that both he and his son had been targeted. Rajanna’s son, MLC Rajendra Rajanna, confirmed the claim, stating that the attempts had been ongoing for six months. “At first, we thought it was just random phone or video calls, but the frequency kept increasing. I have raised this issue in the Assembly and urged the Home Minister to conduct a thorough investigation,” he said.
“Congress is trying to cover up the issue after initially stating that they would probe the matter. Later, Parameshwara said that he had not received any official information from the department on the honey trap case. This means they are trying to cover up the issue. We have sought a CBI inquiry or a judicial inquiry into the matter,” the BJP state chief said.
