Ignoring the warning of disciplinary action, about 13 MLAs shared the dais with Yeddyurappa who ten days ago severed his 40-year-old association with the BJP.
Seeking to send a strong message to Yeddyurappa's loyalists, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had cracked the whip yesterday by sacking Cooperative Minister B J Puttaswamy, from the cabinet. The party had also suspended another staunch supporter and Tumkur MP G S Basavaraj.
The open defiance by MLAs supporting Yeddyurappa has raised questions on the survival of the five-month-old Shettar government in the state which is due to face assembly polls in May.
The Yeddyurappa loyalists' action triggered demand by the opposition Congress for the resignation of the BJP government on the ground that it has been reduced to a minority.
Opposition Congress leader in the state assembly Siddaramaiah said, "this government has been reduced to a minority. It will collapse tomorrow".
Seeking to put up a brave face despite the developments in his party, Shettar ruled out his resignation and asserted that he still commanded majority.
He, however, said action will be taken against those who defied the party directive and participated in Yeddyurappa's rally.
"There is no question of tolerating indiscipline", Shettar said.
Prahallad Joshi, MP, told reporters in Hubli that the party is collecting information on those who attended the Haveri rally and would initiate action against them under the party constitution.
In the 224-member assembly, BJP has a strength of 118, followed by Congress 71, JDS 26, Ind seven and two vacancies.
The ruling dispensation requires 113 for a simple majority.
