The Hindu Business Line : BJP calls for dismissal of Karnataka Government

The BJP MLAs led by former Deputy Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yediyurappa, met the Karnataka Governor, Mr Rameshwar Thakur, and submitted the party’s ‘withdrawal of support’ letter, thus ending the 20-month coalition pact.

Mr Yediyurappa; the BJP State President, Mr D.V. Sadananda Gowda; and former Union Minister, Mr H.N. Ananth Kumar, led a troop of party workers from all over the State, in a rally to Raj Bhavan. The meeting with the Governor lasted over 45 minutes.

Govt’s dismissal

The BJP has urged the dismissal of the Government, since after its withdrawal, the State Government has been reduced to a minority. The BJP told the Governor that the only option before him was to dismiss the Government, without giving JD(S) an opportunity to test its majority.

With 79 BJP legislators pulling out of the coalition, the Government is down to a minority in the 224-member State Legislature.

The strength of JD (S) in the legislature is 48 members and it needs the support of 65 more members to reach a simple majority of 113.

The Chief Minister has appealed to the Governor to give him a chance to prove his party’s majority on the floor of the House.

He ruled out seeking the support of the Congress and added that he preferred mid-term elections.

Dissent

Meanwhile, in a sign of dissent within the JD (S), party MLA Mr Mahima J. Patel has resigned as Parliamentary Secretary, protesting the party’s breach of promise of power transfer to the BJP.

He has sent in his resignation to the Chief Minister. Senior leader Mr Vijaya Sankeshwar has already announced his resignation from the party’s primary membership.