As Congress carts its MLAs away, BJP comes up with plan B in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Jan 19: The Congress has carted its MLAs to a resort, in what is being seen as an attempt to keep its flock together from possible poaching. Four of its MLAs are not in the resort and this has to a certain extent spoilt the party of the Congress which was trying to put up a united front.
B S Yeddyurappa on the other hand returned from Delhi to Bengaluru, following which he visited the ailing Siddaganga Mutt seer, Shivakumar Swamiji in Tumakuru. He also has asked all the BJP MLAs holed up in a resort in Gurgaon to return to Bengaluru.
Karnataka political turmoil: Yeddyurappa calls back all BJP MLAs camping in Gurugram
Does this mean that the operation to topple the ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition is over? Not yet, said a source close to Yeddyurappa. He is confident of convincing Umesh Jadhav, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli and B Nagendra. All these four stayed away from the Congress Legislature Party meeting.
Some within the BJP are confident that they would get these four to resign. However that would not be enough to bring down the number of the coalition. In addition to this the BJP is hopeful of convincing four more MLAs from the Congress to resign. The BJP feels that if this goes through, then a floor test could become necessary. During the floor test the BJP would hope that some more disgruntled elements from the Congress would cross vote.
In terms of numbers the job for the BJP is a Herculean one. It would need to bring down the house strength to 211 from 224. There are two independents, who have not revealed their next course of action as yet. It may be recalled that the two had resigned last week and said that they were pulling out of the government. This means that the BJP would need to convince at least 12 legislators to resign.
Karnataka: Congress moves MLAs to Eagleton resort to 'work out counter-strategy against BJP'
For
the
resignation
ploy
to
work,
a
lot
would
depend
on
the
Speaker
of
the
House.
He
can
keep
the
resignations
in
abeyance
and
ensure
that
the
government
continues
to
function.
For
now
the
entire
picture
appears
to
be
sketchy.
The
four
MLAs
who
did
not
attend
the
CLP
have
not
revealed
anything
as
yet.
The
Congress
while
keeping
its
flock
together
has
been
trying
to
get
in
touch
with
the
MLA,
three
of
whom
are
still
in
Mumbai.