Karnataka govt in crisis, all BJP ministers resign

JD(S) washes hands of power-sharing deal.

With the deadline for transfer of power from the JD(S) ending this evening, 18 BJP ministers, led by Deputy Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, submitted their resignations to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. This is likely to put an end to the 20-month-old coalition government in Karnataka.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the BJP that was attended by MLAs, MLCs, MPs and party office-bearers, said Yashwant Sinha, senior vice-president of the BJP and the party's incharge of Karnataka.

"We sincerely request the JD(S) to honour the agreement we had with them 20 months ago. This government has done good work with mutual cooperation and the objective of our party is to continue this with the support of the JD(S)," he said, adding the party was ready to face an election anytime.

Political pundits view the move as posturing to show that the BJP means business and is prepared even to withdraw support to the government. Earlier in the day, the JD(S) rejected the BJP's evening deadline for Kumaraswamy's resignation.

"Kumaraswamy will not resign today," said JD(S) state President Merajuddin Patel. The JD(S) is supposed to transfer power to the BJP tomorrow.

In a statement that would precipitate the crisis, Patel said the power-sharing agreement was between Kumaraswamy and the BJP and the JD(S) had nothing to do with it. "We have nothing to do with the agreement reached between Kumaraswamy and the BJP 20 months ago," said Patel.

"There is nothing much to be done. The ball is in the JD(S)'s court, and the final decision has to be taken today. The message from our side is clear and loud. Today is the last day for the JD(S) to keep the promise," said a BJP source.

JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda said this morning that the party's Political Affairs Committee would take a decision on transfer of power on October 5. Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy said he did not want to take any decision in "haste."

"It is better such decisions are not taken in a haste. Such a step will not be in the interest of both parties," he said.