JD(S) does a U-turn, offers support to BJP

Resentment among party MLAs forces Kumaraswamy's hand.

In the face of resentment among the legislators of his party against not honouring the power-sharing pact with the BJP, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy agreed to tender letter of support to the saffron party to enable it to form government in the state.

"I told my MLAs to hand over letters of support to the BJP if they want the government to continue. In this exercise, they can even ignore me," Kumaraswamy said after tendering the resignation of his council of ministers to Governor Rameshwar Thakur.

According to highly-placed sources, religious leaders of Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities played a crucial role in this political drama. Both communities have a strong presence in the state. While the JD(S) is considered a Vokkaliga party, the BJP has a strong backing of Lingayats, particularly in North Karnataka. It is said that Shri Shivakumar Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, Tumkur, the most powerful institution of the Lingayat community in Karnataka, and Shri Balagangadharanath Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, the religious head of the Vokkaliga community in Karnataka, held discussions this morning over the political impasse.

JD(S) senior leader N Cheluvarayaswamy, who played mediator between the parties, claimed there were feelers from the BJP favouring continuance of the coalition government and even suggestions that Kumaraswamy could continue for another three months and hand over power later. "The BJP leaders said they wanted to defeat the conspiracy of the Congress," he said.

Earlier in the day, the governor asked Kumaraswamy to parade his MLAs and other legislators (independent MLAs supporting him) to prove he had a majority in the legislature. Sources said Thakur refused to wait for the floor test. Kumaraswamy, sources said, expressed his inability to parade the required number of MLAs and resigned. Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Kumaraswamy said he had no other option. "I apologise to the people of the state for the inconvenience caused to them because of this situation," he said.

Earlier, Kumaraswamy met his father HD Deve Gowda. However, Gowda, who appeared upset after the meeting, refused to talk to the media. The JD(S) held yet another marathon meeting of its legislature party. There was mixed opinion in the party over supporting the BJP. The Lingayat legislators of the JD(S) led by Mahima Patel, son of former chief minister JH Patel (the powerful Lingayat leader), were reported to be in favour of supporting the BJP.

Meanwhile, the BJP camp is still upbeat about the chances of BS Yediyurappa becoming chief minister. Their chances were bolstered when AICC Secretary Prithviraj Chauhan, in-charge of the party's Karnataka affairs, made it clear the Congress would neither support the BJP nor the JD(S).

BJP spokesperson and former minister R Ashok said, "There are positive indications from the JD(S). We have received information that a section of the JD(S) legislators wants to support the BJP. We are waiting for the JD(S) response."

According to highly-placed sources, the governor has sent a status report to the president. It remains to be seen what decision the governor takes.

PTI adds: In a significant move, the Congress MLAs have submitted individual letters to the governor stating they will not support any government other than the one formed by their party.