Kumaraswamy resigns, blames political compulsions

Bangalore, Oct 8 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minsiter H D Kumaraswamy today tendered his resignation to Governor Rameshwar Thakur after his Government was reduced to a minority following the withdrawal of support by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Talking to newsmen after submitting the resignation he said that political compulsions had acted against his conscience on the transfer of power issue and accused both the Congress and the BJP of attempting to split the Janata Dal (S) by wooing party legislators to gain numbers and form the next government.

However he complimented the partymen for reposing confidence in his leadership. He said he would not come in the way of his legislators, if they chose to join hands with the BJP to form a government.

The resignation culminated on a day of hectic political activity which began with the Congress leaders meeting the government pressing for immediate dismissal of the Kumaraswamy government and dissolution of the Assembly to pave for a mid term poll in the State. The BJP which launched a state wide protest against the JD(S) on the transfer of power issue, however cut short the programme in the wake of Mr Kumaraswamy's decision.

Mr Kumaraswamy who was summoned by the Governor in the morning after the Congress submitted a memorandum was advised by the governor to take appropriate decision at the earliest. Aftre consultations with his father and JD(S) Supremo H D Devegowda and his legislators, the Chief Minsiter drove to Raj Bhavan for the second time in the evening and submitted his resignation.

(ed pick up suitably from related series).

UNI