Karnataka - Bangalore   

Gowda’s letter triggers alarm in BJP

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party is learnt to be apprehensive that a recent letter by Janata Dal (S) president H.D. Deve Gowda to President Pratibha Patil and Governor Rameshwar Thakur urging them to dissolve the Legislative Assembly to prevent horse-trading of MLAs might become a stumbling block for its efforts to form a new government with the Janata Dal (S).

Sources in the BJP told The Hindu that the party leaders had requested Mr. Deve Gowda over telephone on Sunday to send another letter to the Governor and the President clarifying them about his new stand on the State political scenario.

The BJP leaders have also consulted several legal experts, including the former High Court Chief Justices, V.S. Malimath and M. Rama Jois, and the former Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley.

All of them are learnt to have said that such a letter by Mr. Deve Gowda would not have any impact on their efforts to form the government.

According to the BJP, the legal experts have said that the latest stand is more important. Besides, the view of the party State president and legislature party leader is more important than that of the national president when it comes to making a decision on the political scenario in a State, the BJP leaders said while citing the legal opinion.

While smiles are back on the faces of BJP leaders after staking claim to form a new government, the BJP think-tank is not without tension. It feels that the party would lose its advantage if the Governor recommends dissolution of the Assembly instead of giving an opportunity for B.S. Yediyurappa to form a government. By offering its support to the BJP to form the government, the Janata Dal (S) has ensured that it has got rid of the black spot of not keeping the promise on transfer of power. The BJP will get power if it is allowed to form government with the Janata Dal (S). But, it would be in a tight spot if the Assembly is dissolved as it would lose the sympathy factor.

In this background, the BJP leaders are concerned that they are yet to get any communication from the Governor even 24 hours after staking claim to form a government. The party State unit faxed a letter to the President on Sunday appealing to her to act at the earliest on their claims to form the government. A central delegation of BJP leaders would also meet Ms. Patil on Monday and appeal to her to withdraw the Central rule in Karnataka at the earliest and allow the formation of a popular government headed by Mr. Yediyurappa, BJP sources said.

Meanwhile, at the Sunday’s legislature party meeting, the BJP leaders briefed their legislators about the developments in which the party had realigned with the Janata Dal (S).

Three MLAs, including the former Minister, B. Sriramulu, and Sunitha Veerappa Gowda did not attend the meeting.

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