Dharam Singh gets till Jan 27 to show strength

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed Karnataka Governor TN Chaturvedi's decision to give nine days (till January 27) to the "minority" Dharam Singh government to prove its majority.

The BJP and the Janata Dal(S) led by HD Kumaraswamy had yesterday staked a claim to form the government in the state. Party General Secretary Arun Jaitley termed the governor's decision as a "grave constitutional error" and demanded immediate convening of the state Assembly for trial of strength.

"With the JD(S) and BJP coming together, the political situation in the state has become very clear as the alliance enjoys the support of over 130 MLAs. When the Assembly session is on, there is no need for any advance notice and the trial of strength can be even on a day's notice," he said. The governor, however, defended his move saying that it was an appropriate period for a government to prove its majority.

Jaitley recalled that the Supreme Court had, in the Jharkhand assembly case last year, given only three days to the government to prove its majority even when the Assembly was not in session.

He said, "In Karnataka, the session is in progress and there is no reason why such an unduly long period should be given to a minority government to prove its majority. The governor is making a gross constitutional error."

The BJP and the JD(S) had earlier boycotted the governor's address to the joint session of the Assembly, which was later adjourned till January 27, when the vote of confidence for the Dharam Singh government is to take place.

Jaitley's statement, however, also points to the trust deficit that already exists between the BJP and JD(S). Earlier senior state leaders admitted that although Kumaraswamy had been in talks with the BJP for a long time, even in immediate post election space, nothing had been worked out. "Now Kumaraswamy is to be chief minister for 20 months and Yediurappa, the BJP leader for the next 20 months," said a senior BJP leader.

The BJP is afraid that if seven days were given to the Congress government it could well wean Kumaraswamy away from the BJP. "After all politically it makes more sense for Deve Gowda and his son to stick with the Congress, if Kumaraswamy is offered the CM's post as we are hearing by the Congress, this could well happen," said a senior BJP leader.

On record, however, the BJP appeared confident that its alliance was rock solid. Asked whether BJP was afraid that Congress may wean away the splinter group led by Kumaraswamy in the intervening period, Jaitley said, "We are not afraid."

"We had talks with the JD(S) right after the elections as well, but now we are confident that nothing can go wrong," said Jaitley.

"The so-called splinter group of the JD(S) comprises two-thirds of the legislative party. Therefore, according to the 10th Schedule, it can either merge with us or declare which way they will vote. The leftover MLAs, who claim loyalty to leaders other than Kumaraswamy, will then be in danger of being prosecuted under the anti-defection law," he added.