BJP demands Governor to invite it to form govt, Cong opposes it

Bangalore, Oct 28 (UNI) BJP today demanded Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur to invite the party to form the alternative government in the state, while Congress said it would oppose any such move.

Meanwhile the JD(S) legislature party was headed for a split with senior party leader M P Prakash refusing to toe the party's line by realigning with the BJP and decided to take different path on the issue.

Both BJP, which has a strength of 79 legislators, and the Congress which has 65 needs the support of the JD(S) which commands a 57-strong legislators group to form the government in the hung Karnataka assembly.

In a sudden change of mind former Chief Minister and JD(S) legislature party leader H D Kumaraswamy had handed over the party's letter to the Governor last evening extending its support to the BJP to form the next government. This came after the Prakash faction threatened to split the party by trying to align with the Congress.

Mr Kumaraswamy had claimed that he was forced to take such decision to save the party from destruction as Congress had conspired to engineer split in JD(S).

Mr Prakash speaking to newspersons said that the letter submitted by Mr Kumaraswamy was 'illegal and invalid' as the legislature party meeting was not called and the party constitution was not adhered to. "Kumaraswamy's decision to support BJP has no sanction of the majority of party legislators" Prakash claimed.

He also claimed that he enjoys support from the majority of party legislators and vowed that he would continue efforts to form a government with Congress.

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