Karnatka : Cong-JD (S) coalition government is on life support
BANGALURU/ NEW DELHI : Amid an ongoing political crisis that has hit the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government in Karnataka, 21 Congress ministers voluntarily resigned on Monday.
Amid political turmoil, Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has assured his party leaders that the government will run ‘smoothly’. “The issue will be resolved, don’t worry. This government will run smoothly,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
The state leadership claimed that the ‘voluntary’ action was done to accommodate rebel MLAs, who had resigned on Saturday. Shortly afterwards, JD(S) ministers also submitted their resignations hinting at a possible cabinet reshuffle in the days to come.
Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah confirmed the development while talking to reporters in Bengaluru. Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara too had offered to resign. Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, who was in the US returned to Bengaluru in a special chartered flight to address the situation. He later expressed confidence that the government will ‘run smoothly’.
Earlier, 11 MLAs — eight of the Congress and three of the JD(S) — resigned over the weekend. Later, 10 MLAs left for Mumbai and are reportedly lodged in a hotel. Two independent MLAs Roshan Bai
On being asked about his decision to quit Congress and joining BJP, independent MLA Roshan Baig said, “Kyun nahi! Main imaan nahi badal raha. BJP is also a political party, us mein kya buri baat hai (Why not? I am not compromising on my integrity. BJP is a political party too. Is it something bad?)
Posters cropped up in Karnataka with messages calling on Karnataka Congress to make DK Shivakumar as the chief minister of the state. Reacting to HD Kumaraswamy’s statement to the media that his ‘government will run smoothly’, BJP Karnataka chief BS Yeddyurappa said two independent MLAs met the governor and gave a letter declaring their support for the BJP, now our strength is at 107. “Even when they’ve lost majority, Kumaraswamy is speaking like that, people are observing everything. Let us see and wait” Yeddyurappa said.
All JD(S) ministers in the Karnataka coalition government have resigned after 21 ministers from Congress put in their papers to accomodate rebel lawmakers. A cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka cabinet is on the cards. In a bid to save the government and conduct parleys with the rebels, DK Shivakumar left for Mumbai where dissenting legislators were holed up. As per latest developments, the dissenters are belived to be heading for Goa.
A bus carrying JD(S) MLAs, left from Taj West End hotel. They are now being taken to Golfshire, Nandi hills road in Devanahalli. Meanwhile, rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs who are staying at a hotel in Mumbai will be shifted to Goa. Youth Congress workers gathered and staged a protest outside Sofitel hotel in Mumbai where rebel Karnataka MLAs are staying.
BS Yeddyurappa said an appropriate decision will be taken in the BJP legislative party meeting which is underway. “Tomorrow all our workers will protest, because Congress-JD(S) lost the majority so CM should resign immediately.
Congress and JD(S) workers staged protest on the streets in Bengaluru, alleging horse trading by BJP in the state. Independent MLA H Nagesh who resigned as a minister earlier today reached Sofitel hotel in Mumbai where other rebel Karnataka MLAs are staying. In his resignation, he extended support to the BJP.
Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar has alleged that the independent MLA H Nagesh, who resigned as minister on Monday morning, has been ‘hijacked by Yeddyurappa’s PA’. “Just now Mr Nagesh called me and said that he has been hijacked by Mr Yeddyurappas’ PA and BJP. By the time I reached the airport the flight had left,” Shivakumar said.
“Our ministers have voluntarily resigned to help save the government. We will try to accommodate those MLAs who have resigned & interested to be the ministers. We will reshuffle the cabinet keeping regional aspirations & social obligations in mind… I, on behalf of INC India party, request all those who have resigned to reconsider their decision & strengthen our government.,” said Siddaramaiah.
“We’re committed to maintaining the dignity of parliamentary democracy. The trend of submitting resignations was started by Rahul Gandhi in Congress, it wasn’t started by us. He himself asked people to submit resignations, even senior leaders are submitting their resignations,” says Rajnath Singh.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the BJP has nothing to do with the situation in Karnataka. “Our party has nothing to do with what is happening in Karnataka. Our party has never indulged in horse trading,” Singh said in the Parliament on Monday.
Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, on Monday, said that by evening, at least six-seven of the 10 MLAs who are in the BJP camp will come back. 11 MLAs resigned on Saturday. 10 flew to Mumbai and are reportedly in touch with the BJP.
Karnataka Independent MLA Nagesh who resigned as a minister on Monday boarded a special flight for Mumbai. 10 of the 11 MLAs — eight of Congress and three of JD(S), who resigned on Saturday are already in Mumbai.
Nagesh, the independent MLA who resigned a short while ago, has extended support to the BJP. In a letter written to the Governor, he wrote, “I’ve already withdrawn my support to govt headed by HD Kumaraswamy. I would further by this letter unequivocally state I would extend my support to the Govt of BJP if called for by your good self.” With this, the BJP tally in the state reaches 106.
Karnataka Congress Legislature Party leader Siddharamaiah and Ministers UT Khader, Shivashankara Reddy, Venkataramanappa, Jayamala, MB Patil, Krishna Byre Gowda, Rajshekar Patil, Rajshekar Patil, DK Shivakumar reached Parameshwara’s residence for breakfast meeting a short while ago.
Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy, who rushed back from his 10-day US trip, held a meeting with JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda to discuss the political situation in the state. “We are 10 MLAs here. A total 13 MLAs have submitted resignation to Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and Governor Vajubhai Bala. We all are together. No question of going back to Bengaluru and withdrawing the resignations,” Karnataka Congress MLA ST Somashekar said on Sunday. (With Agency Inputs ).
