BJP, JD(S) submit letters of support

The action in Karnataka continued for the third day today with the BJP and the JD(S) parading their MLAs in front of Governor Rameshwar Thakur, showing they had the numbers to form a government.

The BJP's 79 MLAs and JD(S)'s 46 out of 58 MLAs met the governor even as JD(S) rebel MP Prakash took four MLAs with him to the Raj Bhawan in defiance of the party president.

The BJP is now pressuring the governor to revoke president's rule. "The Constitutional way is clear. He has no other way before him," said BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu.

"A few days ago, Deve Gowda wrote there was an attempt to split his party. He was referring to the Congress. The governor may use this as an excuse to dissolve the Assembly as soon as Parliament convenes," said a top BJP source, admitting this was the party's biggest fear.

The Congress, meanwhile, urged the Centre to dissolve the Assembly. "Why are the BJP and the JD(S) afraid of elections?" said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Later in the day, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa was elected the leader of the JD(S)-BJP legislature party.

The meeting was attended by 126 MLAs, 80 from the BJP and 46 from the JD(S), said state BJP President DV Sadananda Gowda.