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Dissident MLAs from JD(S) and Congress leave Raj Bhavan after meeting with Karnataka Governor Vajuibhai Vala, in Bengaluru.[/caption]
Bengaluru, July 6 (PTI): The JD(S)-Congress government plunged into a crisis on Saturday with 13 MLAs of the alliance submitting their resignation to the Speaker.
The ruling coalition, which has 118 members, faces the risk of losing majority in the 224-member Assembly if the resignations are accepted.
The crisis, which had been brewing ever since the BJP swept the parliamentary polls in the state, deepened as the group of MLAs reached the Speaker’s office to put in their papers and later met Governor Vajubhai Vala at the Raj Bhavan.
“Fourteen MLAs from Congress and JD(S), including Anand Singh, have submitted resignation from the Assembly to the Speaker,” JD(S) MLA A H Vishwanath said after meeting the Governor.
However, Assembly secretariat sources said a total of 13 MLAs have put in their papers, including Singh who submitted his resignation to the Speaker earlier this week.
Vishwanath accused the coalition government led by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of failing in its duty and denied that the BJP was behind the revolt.
“The government failed to coordinate with the MLAs...and take them along. It has also failed to live up to the expectations of the people,” he said.
On the charge that the BJP was trying to poach MLAs to destabilise the government through “Operation Lotus (BJP’s poll symbol)”, he said it is “a figment of your imagination”.
“There is no BJP angle to it. We are all seniors. No operation can happen...we are resigning voluntarily against the apathy of the government,” he said.
The JD(S)-Congress coalition’s total strength, including those who have put in their papers, is 118 (Congress-78, JD(S)-37, BSP-1 and Independents-2), besides the Speaker.
The BJP has 105 MLAs in the House.
The MLAs who were seen at the Speaker’s office are Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Pratap Gowda Patil (Maski), Shivram Hebbar (Yellapur), Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani), B C Patil (Hirekerur), Byratibasavaraj (K R Puram), S T Soma Shekar (Yashwanthpur) and Ramalinga Reddy (BTM Layout) of the Congress.
The JD(S) MLAs are A H Vishwanath (Hunsur), who recently resigned as the party’s state chief, Narayana Gowda (K R Pet), and Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layout).
Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar, who was not in his office when the legislators went there Saturday, said “whether the government will fall or survive” would be decided “in the Assembly”.
The Speaker told reporters, “11 of them have submitted resignation letters. I told officials to take the letters and issue acknowledgement...on Tuesday I will go to office and take further action in accordance with rules.”
Later, Congress MLA Munirathna (Rajarajeshwari Nagar) put in his papers, the Assembly secretariat sources said. He was also seen with the rebel MLAs outside the Raj Bhavan.
To questions on the future of the government, the Speaker said, “Let’s wait and see, I have nothing to do with it... Whether the government will fall or survive, it will be decided in the Assembly...”
As a last-ditch bid, Congress’s “trouble shooter” and Minister D K Shivakumar met the legislators and tried to convince them.
The ruling coalition leaders had expressed fear that the BJP would try to destabalise the government after the Lok Sabha election results. The Congress and the JD(U) managed to win just one seat each in the state having 28 Lok Sabha constituencies.
The BJP bagged 25 seats and an Independent supported by it won from Mandya.
Amid a flurry of resignations by the ruling combine MLAs, senior congress leader and coalition coordination committee chief Siddaramaiah on Saturday asserted that the government in Karnataka would continue, even as the BJP said it had nothing to do with the resignations.
Putting a question mark over the government’s survival, 14 MLAs of the ruling JD(S)-Congress alliance in Karnataka have submitted their resignation to the Speaker.
“Fourteen MLAs from Congress and JD(S), including Anand Singh, have submitted resignation from the Assembly to the Speaker...we also brought to matter to the notice of governor,” JD(S) MLA A H Vishwanath told reporters after meeting Governor Vajubhai Vala.
The BJP, which has come under attack from the combine for allegedly trying to destabilise the government by luring MLAs, clarified that it had nothing to do with the resignation of the legislators.
State BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa said his party would take “appropriate decision at the appropriate time.”
Asked if BJP, the single largest party, would make any move to stake claim before the Governor, Yeddyurappa said “We will not do such things.
“We will wait and watch the developments that are unfolding,” he said.
JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda said the ball was in the Speakers court.
Amid the political turmoil, Siddaramaiah said AICC general secretary Venugopal would arrive to hold talks with leaders.
“Nothing will happen..Venugopal (AICC General Secretary) will come (to Bengaluru)..nothing will happen, government will continue,” Siddaramaiah said.
“How it (government) will be unstable? Resignation has to get accepted right? It has not been accepted yet. Siddaramaiah, who is also the CLP leader said, he will speak to MLAs. “We are trying to contact them..”
Trying to find a solution to the crisis, Minister and Congress troubleshooter D K Shivakumar held talks with four Congress MLAs Ramalinga Reddy, ST Somashekhar, Byrati Basavaraj and Muniratna.
Congress sources said Shivakumar tried to persuade Ramalinga Reddy and bring the situation under control but the talks failed.
Reacting to the development, JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda said, “The ball is in the court of the Speaker..Im also ready to see along with you what will happen next...”
Yeddyurappa said his party had nothing to do with the resignations.
Senior Congress leader and MLA Ramalinga Reddy, who submitted his resignation, has been sulking ever since the coalition government was formed as he felt he had been sidelined and not given a place in the cabinet.
Speaking to reporters, Reddy said “I have already spoken several times about the reasons behind the resignation but I will not repeat them.
Shivakumar wanted me not to resign but I have already submitted my resignation.”
When asked whether he would withdraw his resignation, Reddy said, “Will anyone take the resignation back after submitting it? I will not withdraw.”
Reddy, however, insisted that he would remain in Congress and maintained that the resignation was only from the legislative assembly.
He clarified that his resignation had nothing to do with denial of ministerial berth.
