Kumaraswamy warns BJP of fresh elections

All eyes on today's meet between Deve Gowda and the BJP chief.

The writing on the wall for the BJP-JD(S) government in Karnataka seems clear, with both parties hardening their stand ahead of a meeting between BJP President Rajnath Singh and JD(S) leader Deve Gowda.

In Bangalore, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy today threatened to resign and opt for fresh elections rather than transfer power to the BJP.

"The BJP leaders are carrying out a slanderous campaign against me and my family. Having lost patience, they are indulging in character assassination. Why should the JD(S) transfer power to a party that cannot respect its partners?" he said.

According to JD(S) sources, the chief minister is planning to seek a vote of confidence in the Assembly next week. A meeting of the state cabinet has been convened on Friday to fix a date for the session, say sources.

This has caused unrest in the BJP, which is facing groupism. While one faction is supporting Deputy Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, the other is led by former Union minister HN Ananth Kumar.

The Kumar camp is not keen on Yediyurappa occupying the post of chief minister. The Yediyurappa camp is ready for a compromise "" either to continue support to the JD(S) or seek transfer of power.

At the same time, Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) would transfer power if the BJP addressed its concerns. "The BJP is unable to control its party members (Tourism Minister B Sriramulu and MLC Janardhana Reddy), who are making wild accusations against me and my family. We have had enough," he said.

He wondered if the BJP would be able to control its affiliates like the RSS, the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. "What is the guarantee the BJP will not dance to the tunes of these organisations after coming to power? If the BJP can address our concerns, we will transfer power," he said.

Kumaraswamy told the new ward representatives from the JD(S) he was prepared to break his word on the coalition agreement. "For the sake of the party and the state, I am willing to break my word, and I am also willing to go to the court of the people," he said.

In New Delhi, the BJP held a meeting of its parliamentary board, where it made clear its stand on the agreement with the JD(S). "The parliamentary board reviewed the situation in Karnataka and we would like to reiterate that the agreement between the JD(S) and the BJP is non-negotiable and our candidate for chief ministership remains BS Yediurappa, which too is non-negotiable," said Yashwant Sinha, party general secretary in charge of Karnataka.

Gowda today spoke to the BJP president over telephone. The two are scheduled to meet tomorrow. "The parliamentary board will now meet on October 6 to come to a decision," said Sinha.

Sinha said rumours that Kumar had fomented trouble for Yediurappa were not true.