In Karnataka, two Congress MLAs quit, BJP keeps a close watch
Bangalore : In a fresh trouble for ruling Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition in Karnataka, two Congress MLAs have put in their papers on Monday. Anand Singh and Ramesh Jarkiholi were the two lawmakers who submitted their resignation to the speaker.
The Congress is yet to confirm their resignation. A senior Congress leader termed the sudden resignation as 'shocking'.
"Anand Singh resignation is shocking to me... I spoke to the Chief Minister. There is no problem in the coalition government," senior Karnataka Congress leader and minister DK Shivakumar said.
"I have submitted by resignation as the people of my constituency are agitated over the government's approval to lease out government land to the Jindals," Anand Singh told reporters. The state assembly speaker's office confirmed receiving the legislator's letter on Monday afternoon.
With the two leaders stepping down, the Congress is now reduced to 77 members in the state assembly. The JDS-Congress alliance has now a wafer thin 114 lawmakers in the 224-member Karnataka assembly where the majority mark is 113.
The BJP is keeping a close watch as it has 105 MLAs, BSP has one and there is one independent.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is currently in the US on a private visit. "I'm at Kalabhairaveshwara temple foundation laying ceremony (in New Jersey). I'm watching TV channels. Destabilising government continues to be a daydream of BJP," Mr Kumaraswamy tweeted.
The BJP in Karnataka is keeping a close watch. "Even I have heard about his (Anand Singh's) resignation through media. We don't want to destabilise the government... If the government falls on own its own, we will explore the possibilities of forming the new government but there is no question of fresh elections," Karnataka BJP chief and former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said.
