Dharam gets a breather as BJP backs out

The bjp in Karnataka tonight staved off a possible split in its fold by abandoning the idea of aligning with Janata Dal (Secular) and form an alternative to Congress-led coalition government.

"There is no split or division in the party", bjp vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after a meeting of party mlas, office-bearers and mps here this evening.

Opposition bjp leader in the Assembly b s yediyurappa, whose moves to form an alternative government with jd(s) with the support of a faction of the party had set off the crisis, was also present with naidu at the press conference.

Naidu said Yediyurappa had raised certain issues and they were being addressed.

Naidu said it was true that because of the turmoil in jd(s), Congress' coalition partner, there was speculation that the government might fall with the likelihood of assembly polls, which led to speculation about bjp joining hands with jd(s) to form an alternative government.

Since there was no firm response from the jds, "we cannot move ahead", Naidu said. "Without divorce (between the Congress and jd-s, how can we think of a new alignment"? He said the party was united and Yediyurappa was the leader of the Opposition party and added if bjp came to power, "he will also be in position".

The bjp all india general secretary ananthkumar, with whom Yediyurappa has differences, was also present at the press conference.