K'taka: BJP threatens to launch agitation march to Raj Bhawan

Bangalore, Oct 31: Seeking to keep up the pressure, the BJP once again petitioned Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Tuesday to invite it form a coalition government with JD(S) and announced the launch a march to Raj Bhawan on Wednesday to press its demand.

As the BJP awaits Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur's decision on its willingness to form a coalition government with erstwhile estranged partner JD-S, intellectuals of the State are divided in their opinion on the move.

Seeking to keep up the pressure, the BJP once again petitioned Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Tuesday to invite it form a coalition government with JD(S) and announced the launch a march to Raj Bhawan on Wednesday to press its demand.

The BJP also threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if the Governor failed to invite it and JD(S) to form a government.

The BJP-JD(S) combine's Chief Ministerial nominee B S Yeddyurappa met Thakur for an hour at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday and later told reporters that the Governor had assured them that he would send a report to the President in a day or two and that he was satisfied with the numbers that they have.

Yeddyurappa said he was satisfied with the response given by the Governor and expressed the hope that the combine would get an invitation to form the Government.

"The Governor expressed satisfaction over the presenting of 129 BJP and JD(S) MLAs before him. He said he will send a report to the President in a day or two", Yeddyurappa, accompanied by BJP state unit President D V Sadananda Gowda, told reporters.

Gowda wrote another letter to the Governor on Tuesday, pointing to the clear majority enjoyed by the combine.

In a move to step up pressure in New Delhi, BJP has decided to take a delegation of party MPs from Karnataka to President Pratibha Patil to press its demand. But there is no proposal to parade BJP-JD(S) MLAs before the President, Sadananda Gowda said.

After briefing party leaders on the outcome of their discussions with the Governor, Yeddyurappa said BJP would go ahead with "Raj Bhavan Chalo" on Wednesday and the agitation would continue till the combine was invited to form government.

Sources>