Dharam Singh to seek vote of confidence

    Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh has said that he will seek a vote of confidence in the Assembly on January 27 following split in the coalition. JD(S) rebel Kumaraswamy Gowda and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa have claimed majority. The Assembly has been adjourned till January 27. Dharam Singh said, "I will not step down" and also clarified that he was not holding any negotiations with the Janata Dal (Secular) led by HD Kumaraswamy Gowda. The Congress and JD (S) coalition government in Karnataka is facing a crisis after the JD (S) faction led by H D Kumaraswamy, the son of former Prime Minister and party supremo H D Deve Gowda withdrew support to the Karnataka Government.

   The current political equation in the 224-strong Karnataka Assembly is that the Congress-JD(S)-CPM faction has 113 seats as opposed to the 126 that the BJP-JD(S) combine has. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi were informed of the crisis being faced by Dharam Singh Government. The meeting of the Congress Core Group took place after Manmohan Singh yesterday night reviewed the situation with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Political secretary to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel was also present at the meeting. BJP delegation met Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi this morning and urged him to advise Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to resign, and if refused, he should be dismissed. BJP and JD (S) legislators in Karnataka and Naidu then commenced a protest outside the Governor's official residence to force the issue. They also announced plans to boycott the Governor's address to the joint session of the State legislature. BJP leader B S Yediyurappa said that the Dharam Singh Government had lost the 'moral right' to continue in office and the dharna was in protest against the 'government's attitude and the Chief Minister's attitude'. According to informed Congress party sources, Congress leader A.K.Antony has just revealed that HD Kumaraswamy Gowda can assume charge as the Chief Minister of Karnataka and lead the present combine if his faction of JD(S) dissociates itself from the BJP. On Wednesday, the HD Kumaraswamy Gowda JD (S) faction and BJP agreed to a power-sharing arrangement for the remaining 40-months of the present government, with the former being allowed to exercise the first chance to rule the state. Chief Minister Dharam Singh on Wednesday night sought time till January 31 from Governor T N Chaturvedi to prove his majority on the floor of the house.

BJP asks Karnataka Governor to dismiss Govt
by KG Vasuki

    A BJP delegation met Karnataka Governor TN Chaturvedi this morning and urged him to advise Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to resign, and if refused, he should be dismissed. After meeting Governor Chaturvedi, senior BJP leader M.Venkaiah Naidu told the media here that the delegation had urged the former to immediately advise Dharam Singh to resign, failing which he should dismiss the ministry and invite Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy to form an alternative government with the support of the BJP. Naidu said that Chaturvedi is considering the matter. "The legislators have elected Kumaraswamy as their leader, in the presence of M.P Prakash.

   Forty six MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly), literally, physically, presented themselves in front of the government and its a clear case, where not one-third or two-third or half or more than half, it is almost three-fourth or four-fifth of the legislature party of the Janata Dal (Secular) and they elected a leader. It is a change of leader, there is no question of change of party or defection, it is a change of leader, that is an internal matter, it has been duly communicated to the honourable speaker, it has been communicated to the governor also so that argument does not hold good," said Naidu "We are not afraid of facing the assembly. Our demand is either you ask them to resign or let them face assembly and have confidence motion as first thing in the assembly today. But the governor told us that the business has been fixed and it's for the government to change the business. But as the government is not coming forward to prove its strength, we have decided not to go to assembly. If the government is willing to prove it's + strength on the floor of the house today, in the afternoon today, anytime today we are willing to go to assembly and then see to it that this government is defeated because this government is utter minority," he added. BJP and JD (S) legislators in Karnataka and Naidu then commenced a protest outside the Governor's official residence to force the issue. They also announced plans to boycott the Governor's address to the joint session of the State legislature. BJP leader B S Yediyurappa said that the Dharam Singh Government had lost the 'moral right' to continue in office and the dharna was in protest against the 'government's attitude and the Chief Minister's attitude'. The Congress and JD (S) coalition government in Karnataka is facing a crisis after the JD (S) faction led by H.D.

    Kumaraswamy, the son of former Prime Minister and party supreme H D Deve Gowda withdrew support to the Karnataka Government. The current political equation in the 224-strong Karnataka Assembly is that the Congress-JD (S)-CPM faction has 113 seats as opposed to the 126 that the BJP-JD (S) combine has. According to informed Congress party sources, Congress leader A.K.Antony has just revealed that HD Kumaraswamy can assume charge as the Chief Minister of Karnataka and lead the present combine if his faction of JD (S) dissociates itself from the BJP. On Wednesday, the Kumaraswamy JD (S) faction and BJP agreed to a power-sharing arrangement for the remaining 40-months of the present government, with the former being allowed to exercise the first chance to rule the state. Chief Minister Dharam Singh on Wednesday night sought time till January 31 from Governor T N Chaturvedi to prove his majority on the floor of the house. The political drama in Karnataka took a U-turn when Kumaraswamy went to Raj Bhawan along with 41 MLAs to meet Governor Chaturvedi and put his stake to form the government. There he reportedly submitted a letter containing signatures of rebel legislatures and withdrew support from the Dharam Singh government. He also claimed the support of another six independent MLAs in his favour.

Congress hopeful of saving Karnataka govt

    New Delhi: Senior Congress leader AK Antony on Thursday said his party was hopeful of saving the Karnataka government, on the brink of collapse after a move by a faction of JD (S) led by HD Kumaraswamy to align with the BJP to form alternative government in the State. After a meeting of the Congress Core Committee at the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi today, Antony told reporters that the party was continuously in touch with the leaders in the state and was closely monitoring the political development there. "Apart from the usual things, we discussed the issue of Karnataka in the core committee meeting, today. We are closely monitoring the development there. We are also in touch with our local colleagues including the Chief Minister and the Parades Congress Committee President," said Antony. "At the moment I can't say anything, but we will continue to have discussions with our leaders. We have not taken any decision so far. We hope that we will resume our government in the State," he added The nineteen-month-old Dharam Singh-led coalition government in Karnataka plunged into a deep political crisis when a JD (S) group, led by HD Kumaraswamy Gowda comprising 44 members out of its total 59, announced its decision to align with the BJP, the largest group with 79 members in the 224-member Assembly. The Congress has 64 legislators in the State Assembly.

Congress may yield CM post to HD Kumaraswamy Gowda
by Sudhakar

    New Delhi: Speculations about Karnataka Govt's future took political centrestage in the capital on Thursday. The Congress leaders met at a hurriedly called core committee meeting at Prime Minister Manmohaan Singh's residence to assess the developing situation in Bangalore, but later opted to downplay the crisis. But the sheer presence of Congress General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, AK Anthony at the core committee meeting clearly hinted that Karnataka was on top of their minds. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was also attended by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, HRD Minister Arjun Singh and Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel. Coming out of the meeting, Anthony told the newsperson that "We are closely monitoring the situation and will take decision shortly." But he also added a twist to the ongoing discussions in both Delhi and Bangalore by saying that "We are in close contact with Mr. Deve Gowda." Party insiders reveal that Gowda senior has proposed to the Congress that his rebellious son, HD Kumaraswamy Gowda could be mollified if the Congress offers the Chief Ministership to him. It is learnt that Anthony has even spoken to HD Kumaraswamy Gowda in this regard, but with political uncertainty looming large, Congress Party is playing its card close to its chest.

   Earlier this morning, Anthony admitted to a crisis in Karnataka and said that "the situation is grave and we are doing our best to stop the communal BJP from coming to power in Karnataka." Yesterday, HD Kumaraswamy Gowda, son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda had 'split' his party, Janata Dal (Secular) and had staked claim to form the government with the support from BJP. With 79 MLAs of BJP and 46 MLAs of JD(S) supporting him, HD Kumaraswamy Gowda is all set to become the next CM. However with the latest twist in the tale, BJP may yet not make it. The Governor of Karnataka T.N. Chaturvedi today gave incumbent CM Dharma Singh a week's time to prove his majority, a move vehemently opposed by the BJP. Chaturvedi later justified his decision citing earlier precedents that "there are instances where two weeks and one month were given to incumbents to prove their majority. He also expressed confidence about a stable government being formed irrespective of who forms it and assured that there will no horse trading. Meanwhile, Ahmed Patel, Political Secretary to Sonia Gandhi is leaving for Bangalore to formulate a 'deal' which party sources refused to reveal.

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