Karnataka crisis remains on boil

Bangalore, Oct 10 (ANI): With just 36 hours left to prove his majority on the floor of the House, there was no relief for Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, as the rebel MLAs holding their ground behind JD (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy who vowed to oust the BJP government.

"We are all united. Now the Karnataka political situation is totally under control. To change the corrupt government, all the MLAs are united," said Kumaraswamy who arrived here along with eleven dissident MLAs from Goa.

BJP's efforts to win over dissidents failed on Saturday as high drama in Goa marked JD(S)' attempts to woo them to its side.

BJP alleged that twelve of its MLAs were "forcibly" taken to an unknown destination by Kumaraswamy from a hotel in Goa.

Revenue Minister Renukacharya, who originally led the dissidents and is now back in Yeddyurappa's camp, said: "In Panaji they (the dissidents) have struck a secret understanding with the JD(S) and have cheated the people of their constituencies by taking "huge amounts" to go with the opposition.

Karnataka Government plunged into crisis after 14 BJP and five Independent MLAs withdrew support to it, prompting State Governor H R Bharadwaj to ask Yeddyurappa to seek a trust vote by October 12.

Despite the crisis, a confident Yeddyurappa said he would prove his majority in the House by October 11.

"I talked to the Governor... the House will meet on October 11... the MLAs who have gone out of town will be back soon. I am confident of proving majority, " said Yeddyurappa.

In the 224-member Assembly, BJP and Independents together have a strength of 123 members. With Wednesday's developments it has been reduced to 104 members. The BJP now requires the support of 113 members to prove its majority.

The BJP earlier had 117 MLAs including the Speaker, followed by Congress 73, JDS 28 and independents six. (ANI)