BJP, JD(S) parade MLAs, all eyes on governor

As the BJP and the JD(S) paraded their MLAs from Karnataka in front of President Pratibha Patil to show their majority in the Assembly, there was intense speculation over Governor Rameshwar Thakur's report to the home ministry.

In his report to the president on October 31, Thakur had admitted that the BJP-JD(S) had a majority but doubted their ability to give a stable government.

To show the unstable nature of the alliance, the governor has apparently annexed advertisements taken out by both parties accusing each other of playing foul.

The Congress also appears to be divided, with one section urging the revocation of president's rule and the other holding out in hope that the dynamics of the alliance will lead to its collapse again.

The BJP and the JD(S), however, continued to claim that they were in a position to form a government.

In a memorandum to the president, they said 10 days had passed since they came forward to form a government but the governor had not shown any initiative.