BENGALURU, April 22 -- Karnataka assembly speaker UT Khader said that a decision on disqualifying Dharwad MLA Vinay Kulkarni would be taken only after his office receives official communication regarding the life sentence awarded to him.

"Unless I am officially communicated about the sentence, no action can be taken," Khader told reporters in Mangaluru.

Kulkarni was sentenced to life imprisonment on April 15 by a special court in Bengaluru that deals with criminal cases involving sitting and former MPs and MLAs. He and 16 others were convicted in connection with the murder of BJP leader Yogesh Goudar in Dharwad on June 15, 2016.

Khader indicated that the MLA may continue in office if he chooses to challenge the conviction within the le...