Kumaraswamy's swearing-in cleared

    Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday declined to stay the swearing-in ceremony of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition to be held here tomorrow. The High Court had on Wednesday issued notices against the Chief Minister-in-waiting, H D Kumaraswamy, and rebel JD(S) legislatures to reply urgently on a petition challenging the decision of Assembly Speaker, S. Krishna to recognise Kumaraswamy as the leader of the JD(S) Legislature Party. The court today refused to stay the swearing-in ceremony after looking into the anti-defection aspect of the entire event and analysing the details of whether the Speaker had followed Constitutional provisions and procedures before taking his decision.

    Meanwhile, Krishna today justified his action of recognising Kumaraswamy as JD(S) legislature party leader and adjourning the House sine die on January 27 by saying that as a speaker, he has powers to take decisions as per the rules and norms enshrined in the Constitution. Earlier, the Congress had contended that the speaker had recognized Kumaraswamy as JD(S) LP leader by violating the existing norms. According to reports, Kumaraswamy alongwith the 38 rebel JD(S) MLAs is meeting his father and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda to try to 'clear' their existing differences. It has been learnt that Kumaraswamy will try to bring his father around so that he can register his support before tomorrow's oath taking ceremony. Deve Gowda is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi later tonight to attend the national executive meeting of the party to elect the new national president which had fallen vacant after his dramatic resignation on January 27.

Dharam Singh still hopes to form Govt in Karnataka

    New Delhi: Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister N.Dharam Singh still hopes to form a government in the state after the cancellation of the scheduled meeting of Janata Dal (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and top BJP leaders. Dharam Singh gave this statement after Janata Dal(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy cancelled his meeting with Former P M Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other Bhartiya Janata Party leaders scheduled for on Wednesday. "Kumaraswamy along with Yediyurappa were supposed to meet Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other top BJP leaders but he cancelled the programme. All this is in front of us we will see,"said Dharam Singh. Dharam Singh may have seen a ray of hope to save the Government in Karnataka as he said he is waiting for the development and still hopes for the good. "The hope is always there, life depends on hope. We are keeping a close eye on the development,"said Singh.

     Kumaraswamy, breakaway leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) will form government along with his new ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on February 3. The BJP-JD (S) had agreed on a power sharing formula, which will have Kumaraswamy as chief for the first six months in power and the rest of the tenure would be led by BJP's Yediyurappa. Kumara swamy is also schedule to meet his father former P M H D. Deve Gowda to take his blessings before forming the Government on February 3. The JD (S) earlier led former Prime Minister H.D Deve Gowda had broken with majority legislators headed by his son Kumaraswamy walking away from the ruling coalition headed by Congress party after serious difference over farmers' rights and development issues. But Dharam Singh still hopes that Deve Gowda will be able to convince his son. "Deve Gowda is still trying, he has said earlier that he even did not took BJP's support when his Government was in threat at the Center. Deve Gowda has said that secularism has been biggest motive of his life and he can not tie up with BJP. Now it's up to Deve Gowda to convince his party member it's there internal matter,"said Singh. Also talking about the Karnataka High Court's order to issue notice to disqualify Kumaraswamy 35 JD-S rebel MLAs and Speaker Krishna he said " I can not say if the Parties are ready for frequent elections but I will comment on this issue after reaching Bangalore and analysing the situation." The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday ordered issue of notice to Chief Minister-designate H D Kumaraswamy and 35 JDs rebel MLAs and Speaker Krishna on a petition praying for a direction to the presiding officer of the house to disqualify them from the assembly membership and challenging Kumaraswamy's recognition as JDs legislature party leader.

Deve Gowda to meet Kumaraswamy and rebel MLAs today

     Bangalore: Just a day before the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy as Karnataka's 23rd Chief Minister, hectic parleys are on to woo him back to the Congress alliance by his father and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. The 38 rebel MLAs of the Janata Dal (Secular) along with Kumaraswamy are scheduled to meet with Deve Gowda in the evening, just hours after the Karnataka High Court starts listening to petitions challenging the decision of Assembly Speaker, S. Krishna to recognise Kumaraswamy as the leader of the JD(S) Legislature Party. Todays event will bear a significant impact on the immediate political dynamics in Karnataka, as analysts predict that any unfavourable High Court ruling against Kumaraswamy would plunge the state into another political crisis. The High Court had on Wednesday issued notices against Kumaraswamy and rebel JD(S) MLAs to reply urgently. The court is looking into the anti-defection aspect of the entire event and is analysing the details of whether the Speaker had followed Constitutional provisions and procedures before taking his decision. Though sources in the Gowda's camp are saying that the meeting will try to 'clear' the existing differences between father and son, it has been learnt that Kumaraswamy will try to bring his father to his side so that he can register his support before tomorrow's oath taking ceremony. Speculations apart, Kumaraswamy has already declared that "returning to the Congress at this juncture after having come so far is completely out of question." Meanwhile, JD(S) workers have started to demonstrate in front of Deve Gowda's residence, appealing to him to accept his son's decision to go away with the BJP. Deve Gowda is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi tonight to attend the national executive meeting of the party to elect the new national president which had fallen vacant after his dramatic resignation on January 27.

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