Karnataka MLAs to be paraded before President

New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) Mounting pressure on the Centre and Karnataka Governor, the BJP has directed all the 129 BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs to proceed to Delhi and present themselves before President Pratibha Patil.

The MLAs are expected to arrive here tonight, BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters adding that the President was yet to confirm appointment with the Karnataka MLAs.

Mr Rudy regretted the undue delay by Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur for inviting the majority BJP-JD (S) group leader B S Yeddiyurappa to form the government. The Governor was delaying the whole process on 'flimsy grounds', even after the JD (S) MLAs had provided individual affidavits and JD (S) Legislature Party Leader H D Kumaraswamy had announced his party's 'unconditional support' to the BJP.

BJP Vice President and Karnataka incharge Yashwant Sinha expressed his disappointment over the ''undue delay' on the part of the Governor and the Centre in installing a ''popular Government in Karnataka'' and did not rule out parading the MLAs before the President. He urged the Governor to send his report expeditiously asking the Government to restore the Assembly forthwith, he said.

When a reporter referred to the letter written by JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda stating 12 conditions for his party's support, Mr Sinha asked whether Mr Gowda had written the letter to BJP President Rajnath Singh or to the Governor. ''It is an issue between two political parties where the Governor has no role'', he said.

Asked whether it was time for the BJP to approach the Supreme Court, Mr Sinha said it would be sad if the matter reached the apex court because everyone, including the Governor and the Union Government, would be caught on the wrong foot.

UNI