BJP defends resignation of opposition MLAs in Karnataka

New Delhi, Jul 8 (UNI) Defending resignations of four sitting Karnataka MLAs belonging to Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) camps, the BJP today said it found nothing wrong if some legislators quit their seats in the interest of the development of their constituencies impressed by the policies of the BJP government in the state.

Reacting to the serious objections from Congress General Secretary M Veerappa Moily to the resignations, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters that Mr Moily should only recall what his party had done in Goa, where they had opted to have a former BJP minister Digambar Kamat as its Chief Minister. It had also lured several BJP leaders in the state offering ministerial positions in the Congress government.

He said the MLAs, who had resigned from their seats will go before people for their mandate and it was not proper for Mr Moily to use harsh words against the BJP and its Chief Minister.

''The BJP has done nothing undemocratic, unethical and undemocratic deeds in Karnataka. If there is change of heart, you can't attribute motives. The Congress should keep quite and their allegations are bound to boomerang on them,'' Mr Naidu said.

So far, four MLAs, including two from the Congress, have quit their Assembly seats and are likely to seek re-entry on the BJP tickets. The BJP has 110 MLAs in the 224-member Assembly and has support of six Independent MLAs. With the resignation of four MLAs from the Opposition benches, the strength of Congress and JD (S) have reduced to 78 and 26 respectively.

UNI MCN KAS AE HT1802