BJP demands Kumaraswamy's resignation

Bangalore, Oct 1 (UNI) The power struggle in Karnataka today deepened with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding the resignation of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, even as the Janata Dal(S) prolonged the suspense by two more days.

Though the deadline for the transfer of power, as per the pre-government formation agreement 20 months ago was barely 48 hours away, JD(S) said the fate of the coalition would be decided by the meeting to be attended by legislators, leaders, party workers and recently elected members of the rural and urban local bodies to be held in the city on October 4.

Party General Secretary Y S V Datta told reporters after the party executive meeting tonight the JDSLP meeting scheduled tonight could not take place due to paucity of time as several ministers and the Chief Ministers were held up in a Cabinet meeting.

The date for the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting convened by Party General Secretary Danish Ali in Delhi was yet to be fixed.

Mr Ali had earlier said in Delhi the PAC meeting which would be held on October 5 would take the final decision.

Meanwhile, Mr Kumaraswamy said the decision entirely rested on the legislators who made him the leader.

Speaking at a function in Electronics City on the outskirts of the city this evening he said, ''I will make my decision known tomorrow after the Gandhi Jayanti function before the Vidhana Soudha.'' Emerging out of the BJP Minister's meeting, Party Senior Vice President Yashwant Sinha demanded the resignation of Mr Kumaraswamy and ruled out any further meeting with JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda.

''There is no question of negotiations on the issue of transfer of the Chief Minister's post. They (JD-S) should redeem their pledge made 20 months ago,'' he said.

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UNI