The Hindu : Karnataka News : Congress keeps options open; CLP meeting tomorrow

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Sunday, Oct 07, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Congress keeps options open; CLP meeting tomorrow

S. Rajendran and Nagesh Prabhu

Party awaiting high command’s instructions; legislators asked to stay put in Bangalore

BANGALORE: The Congress in Karnataka, which had serious reservations about having any understanding with the Janata Dal (Secular), is now treading a cautious path and awaiting the high command’s instructions.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjuna Kharge told The Hindu on Saturday that the party would initiate the next course of action only after the Bharatiya Janata Party submitted a letter to the Governor stating that the party had withdrawn support to the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition Government in the State. “We cannot act based on statements in the media.”

Sources in the party said it had an open mind on aligning with the Janata Dal (S) since the latter had now distanced itself from the BJP. It is said that the Congress could seek to choose any of the following four steps — to lead a coalition Government with the support of the Janata Dal (S); extend outside support to the Kumaraswamy Ministry; demand that the Legislative Assembly be kept in suspended animation; demand President’s rule until the completion of Assembly elections.

However, keeping the Assembly under suspended animation is difficult at this juncture since Mr. Kumaraswamy has sought to prove his majority on the floor of the House. Unable to comprehend what has been termed “the mind of the high command”, the KPCC leadership, which had called for a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Saturday, deferred it to Monday. The Congress legislators have been directed to remain in Bangalore. A meeting held by several senior Congress leaders on Saturday ended inconclusively as the party decided to adopt a “wait and watch” policy it has been mentioning for the last four days after the BJP members in the Kumaraswamy Ministry submitted their resignations.

The State Congress leaders have raised serious objections to the State Cabinet seeking a session of the legislature from October 18.

Congress leader and former Speaker Ramesh Kumar said the party would urge the Governor to ask Mr. Kumaraswamy to prove his majority “at the earliest.”

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