BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which appeared restive as it eagerly awaited the Governor's invitation to form a government, boycotted Governor T.N. Chaturvedi's address to the joint session of the legislature on Thursday.

Party leaders, including legislators, staged a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan demanding that the Governor insist on the resignation of Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh and install H.D. Kumaraswamy, "leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party", to form a government as he "commands a majority" in the Legislative Assembly.

Earlier, the Governor rejected a demand by BJP Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu not to read out the address prepared by the Dharam Singh Government. The Governor was not allowed to drive in state from the main gate of the Raj Bhavan, as is the custom.

BJP General Secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar said the Government did not have locus standi to convene the session. The Congress, he alleged, is using undemocratic means to obstruct other parties from coming to power. The Governor should immediately invite Mr. Kumaraswamy to form the government, he said.

Addressing presspersons, Mr. Naidu said Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash's letter to the Governor claiming that he is still Leader of the Janata Dal (S) Legislature Party is unconvincing.

Governor's opinion

But Mr. Naidu said the Governor was of the opinion that since he had summoned the legislature session, he should address it. He added that Mr. Chaturvedi has assured BJP legislators that he will consider their request.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly B.S. Yediyurappa, who attended a meeting of the business advisory committee of the Assembly convened by Speaker Krishna, questioned Mr. Prakash's stand.

He said Mr. Prakash has been "removed" from the post of JD(S) Legislature Party leader in the same way as Siddaramaiah was removed earlier.

In a letter to the Governor, Mr. Yediyurappa said there were only 48 MLAs on the treasury benches, and five members from the Janata Dal (United) were protesting against the continuation of the Government.

It showed that Mr. Dharam Singh has lost the confidence of the Assembly, he added.

Mr. Yediyurappa said that never before in the history of the State legislature has the ruling party been reduced to 48 members. There is no need for a verification of the strength of the ruling combine.

The Governor should direct the Chief Minister to step down and invite Mr. Kumaraswamy to form a government. If Mr. Dharam Singh insists that his government enjoys majority support, he may be directed to prove it in two to seven days.

In a letter to Mr. Krishna, Mr. Yediyurappa He has requested the Speaker to ignore an earlier letter from him stating that the BJP members would not attend the proceedings of the House on January 20 as they would be in New Delhi for their party's National Council meeting.

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