— Photo: K. Gopinathan

CALLS IT A DAY: Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh leaves after a press conference where he announced his resignation in Bangalore on Saturday.

Bangalore: The political crisis in Karnataka has finally blown over with Chief Minister Dharam Singh putting in his papers. Governor T.N. Chaturvedi on Saturday invited the leader of the joint Legislature Party of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, H.D. Kumaraswamy, to form a new government.

The Speaker on Friday recognised Mr. Kumaraswamy as the leader of the Legislature party.

The JD(S)-BJP combine has fixed February 3 for the swearing-in though the Governor said he was ready to install the new Government immediately.

The Governor has directed Mr. Kumaraswamy to prove his strength on the floor of the Legislature within eight days of the new Government being sworn-in.

Early in the day, Mr. Dharam Singh was advised by the Governor and several senior Congress leaders to resign rather than persist with his demand for another floor test. He thereafter sought the permission of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and sent his resignation letter to the Governor through his principal secretary. The Governor has asked Mr. Dharam Singh to hold charge until the next government is installed.

Mr. Dharam Singh charged Speaker Krishna with not helping him to move the confidence motion. However, in his report to the Governor, Mr. Krishna said he had asked the Chief Minister to table the motion four times and when he avoided the issue he had no choice but to adjourn the House sine die. The Governor, after due consideration and consulting legal experts, said that while Mr. Kumaraswamy should prove his majority in eight days, Mr. Dharam Singh could also use the opportunity to exhibit his strength.

Mr. Dharam Singh said it was "rather strange" that the JD(S), which had joined forces with the Congress only to prevent the BJP forming a government, now aligned with the same party. The JD(S) commitment to safeguard secularism thus stood exposed.

With the BJP set to be part of a State Government for the first time in south India and the JD(S) emerging triumphant in a running battle with the Congress for several months, the swearing-in programme is expected to be a big show of strength. The second coalition in the State comprising the members of the 12th Assembly will also have a total strength of 34 Ministers, including the Chief Minister and his deputy.

Sources in the JD(S) told The Hindu that Mr. Deve Gowda, who quit as JD(S) national president, continued his efforts to convince the legislators to stick to the party ideology. He met each of them and even suggested that the JD(S) extend only outside support to a BJP Government. However, there were no takers for his suggestion since Mr. Kumaraswamy was unanimously chosen to lead the government.

Deputy Chief Minister in the previous Government M.P. Prakash and State Finance and Industries Minister P.G.R. Sindhia have decided to stay away from the Kumaraswamy Government and are likely to spell out their future course of action shortly.

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