The Hindu : Front Page : BJP formally parts ways with JD(S), submits letter to Governor

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Monday, Oct 08, 2007
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BJP formally parts ways with JD(S), submits letter to Governor

Bangalore Bureau

Kumaraswamy confident of securing a majority vote in Assembly

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

SEEKING DISMISSAL: Bharatiya Janata Party leader B.S. Yediyurappa addresses journalists after meeting Governor Rameshwar Thakur in Bangalore on Sunday. Party general secretary Ananth Kumar is at right. —

BANGALORE: The 20-month coalition between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka came to a formal end on Sunday with the BJP withdrawing support to the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led government.

A delegation of BJP leaders, comprising B.S. Yediyurappa, party general secretary Ananth Kumar and State unit president D.V. Sadananda Gowda, met Governor Rameshwar Thakur and submitted a letter to this effect.

They appealed to the Governor to dismiss Mr. Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister with immediate effect.

The letter, however, said that “if Mr. Kumaraswamy is desirous of seeking a vote of confidence in the legislature” a session must be convened within the next three days and not on October 18 as sought by him. Grant of more time would result in “unethical political activities,” the letter added.

Seeks public apology

After meeting Mr. Thakur, Mr. Yediyurappa told reporters that Mr. Kumaraswamy must quit immediately and tender a public apology for not keeping his promise of transferring power as per the power-sharing pact.

Mr. Kumaraswamy’s continuance in power was “unconstitutional,” Mr. Yediyurappa said. The BJP had not sought the dissolution of the Assembly. “As of now, we are only seeking dismissal of the government.”

The BJP turned the occasion into a show of strength. After meeting the Governor, party leaders addressed a rally of party workers from all over the State near the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

Mr. Kumaraswamy and his father H.D. Deve Gowda came under attack by the BJP leaders for their “betrayal.”

Earlier in the day, at the JD(S) Legislature Party meeting, the leadership gave a call to legislators to stay united. Mr. Kumaraswamy told The Hindu that he was confident of securing a majority vote in the Assembly.

“The session is still 10 days away and I am confident legislators cutting across party lines will vote for me.”

Voice of dissent

The only voice of dissent came from Mahima Patel, parliamentary secretary and MLA, who felt the Chief Minister should have stuck to the agreement with the BJP.

A Congress delegation submitted a letter to the Governor, requesting that the party be taken into confidence on any decision on government formation.

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