New Delhi: In what may be termed a major blow to the Karnataka BJP, sources say that the party will decide on dissolving the state assembly in the next two-three days. Sources said that the Governor will likely put the assembly on suspended animation. The term is used by scientists to describe the slowing of life processes by external means without termination.
The Jagadish Shettar government fell in minority after ex-BJP strongman BS Yeddyurappa withdrew his support to the party. On Sunday, Yeddyurappa launched the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) and 13 of his loyalists quit the BJP to join the new outfit.
In the morning, at least 21 MLAs, seven MLCs and four Lok Sabha members had met Yeddyurappa at a breakfast hosted by the ex-Karnataka chief minister. The participation of these MLAs was seen as a big blow to the government.
Sending a warning to Yeddyurappa's loyalists, Shettar had on Saturday sacked his trusted lieutenant BJ Puttaswamy from the ministry while the party had suspended Tumkur MP GS Basavaraju. Seeking to put up a brave face, Shettar ruled out his resignation and asserted that he still commanded majority. He, however, said action will be taken against those who defied the party directive and participated in Yeddyurappa's rally. "There is no question of tolerating indiscipline."
In the 224-member assembly, BJP has a strength of 118, Congress 71, JDS 26, Independents seven and two vacancies. Yeddyurappa slammed the BJP for the action against Puttaswamy and Basavaraju, flaying it as "selective", as the crisis in BJP appears headed for a flash-point. He said it's "very well-known" about Ministers, MLAs and MPs who are supporting him. "I am wondering why the BJP leadership is delaying and hesitating to take action against them. Instead of dilly-dallying and taking selective action, I dare the BJP leadership to dissolve the Assembly and go before the people."
"It's known truth that the Government is continuing in office with the support of my followers...", he told reporters, adding, he would like to remind the BJP leadership that it was because of his leadership that the party could form its first-ever government in the south. "People of Karnataka will not tolerate the treatment meted out to me by the BJP leadership and selective action taken against my supporters," Yeddyurappa said.
Today's developments triggered calls for resignation of the BJP government by the opposition Congress on the ground that it has been reduced to a minority. KPCC President G Parameshwara and Opposition Congress leader in the state assembly Siddarmaiah said the BJP government would soon collapse.
With additional information from PTI
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