Power Transfer issue: Focus shifts to New Delhi
Bangalore,
Oct
5:
The
major
players
involved
in
power
transfer
'drama'
in
Karnataka
today
rushed
to
New
Delhi
to
focus
on
Political
Affairs
Committee
meeting
of
JD(S)
and
Parliamentary
Board
meeting
of
BJP.
The state Cabinet, barring the BJP ministers, which met this morning decided to convene a special session of the state legislature on October 18 to discuss the political events even as the BJP was crying hoarse over delay in power transfer by the JD(S).
Watch Video
Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was in New Delhi for the Parliamentary Board meeting, rushed to the city last night, to hold talks with his ministers for over an hour before leaving for Delhi this morning.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy wanted certain clarifications from the BJP, whom he accused of being communal, before the power transfer could be effected.
He was of the opinion that the security of minorities and Dalits was not safe in the hands of the BJP.
Expressing displeasure over the Cabinet decision to convene a legislature session, Mr Yediyurappa said it might affect the continuance of the coalition set up in Karnataka. He said the National Parliamentary Board, party's highest decision making body, would discuss all the matters arising out of JD(S)' refusal to hand over power to the BJP and also its decision to convene a session.
''A final and non-negotiable decision may emerge in tomorrow's meeting,'' he said.
The main Opposition Congress had adopted a 'wait and watch' policy on the power transfer issne.
Party State in charge General Secretary Prithviraj Chauhan was expected to arrive here tomorrow to work out a strategy in the event of the BJP withdrawing its support to the JD(S).
Meanwhile, Congress leaders, including KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge and former Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, had met Karnataka Governor and petitioned that the administration in the state had collapsed and all developmental works come to a standstill.
UNI