|
No decision on government formation in Karnataka : BJP starts dharna |
 |
The BJP has launched a three-day round-the-clock dharna in Bangalore to put pressure on Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur to invite its leader B.S. Yediyurrappa to form a government. Former BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu, state unit chief Sadanan¬da Gowda, apart from Yediyurrappa participated in the protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statute on Queen’s Road on the first day, Nov. 3. But there was only a token participation in the dharna by the Janata Dal (Secular), which had decided the previ¬ous week to support the BJP in forming a new government. JDS state president N. Merajuddin Patel sat on dharna for some time.
On Oct. 29, the BJP-JDS combine paraded 129 legislators before the Governor to prove its majority in the state Assembly with a total strength of 224.
Venkaiah Naidu said even seven days after Yediyurrappa staked claim to form the government, the BJP was yet to receive an invitation from the Governor. He alleged that the Congress is influencing the Governor. Venkaiah said the party would continue protests in various forms across the state until it got the invitation.
Venkaiah Naidu said the party would raise the issue in both Houses of Parliament during its winter session. He said, if necessary, the BJP will parade 129 MLAs before the President.
JD(S) conditions for BJP
In a step back from the offer of unconditional support to the BJP in forming a government in Karnataka, the party national president and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Nov. 1 laid down 12 conditions for an understanding between the two parties. One of the conditions is that the JD(S)-BJP alliance will be a temporary arrangement and will end when elections to the Lok Sabha are announced. Deve Gowda said that there was no change in the JD(S) philosophy of maintaining equi-distance from both the Congress and the BJP.
“The JD(S) has joined hands with the BJP only to save itself after the attempts by a political party to poach on its legisla¬tors.” he said.
The JD(S)-BJP coordination committee would be headed by former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, and no decision of the previous Cabinet should be overturned. The other conditions of Gowda pertain to Ministry formation and sharing of portfolios.
Asked about his October 24 letter to Governor Rameshwar Thakur, President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC president Sonia Gandhi, in which he requested quick dissolution of the Assembly to prevent horse-trading, Gowda said, “I maintain the same position despite the JD(S) entering into a fresh tie-up with the BJP. I have not written any fresh letter to the Governor or the President, which could possibly nullify the contents of the first letter.”
Gowda said he would talk to BJP president Rajnath Singh only after President’s Rule was revoked and the Governor invited Yediyurrappa to form a government. “I am particular on a written understanding, unlike in January 2006 when Kumaraswamy and Ye¬diyurrappa had an oral understanding.”
Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the next day, i.e. Nov. 2, reinforced his father H.D. Deve Gowda’s line that the JD(S) support to the BJP was not unconditional. Perturbed by the JDS stand, the BJP is said to be trying to get the JDS to water down the 12 demands made by Deve Gowda.
Meanwhile, Governor Rameshwar Thakur who had sent a report to President Pratiba Patil on the political developments in the state on Oct. 31, sources say, may send another report to the Centre in the light of the latest developments.
In a related development, a delegation of BJP leaders in¬cluding party president Rajnath Singh, L.K. Advani and Venkaiah Naidu met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Oct. 31 and asked for immediate steps to ensure government formation in Karnataka. They submitted a one-page memorandum to the Prime Minister saying that now that it had become possible to instal a government with majority support, President’s Rule should be revoked and Yediyurrappa invited to form the government.
Karnataka state Congress leaders and the Left parties are, however, demanding dissolution of the state Assembly and fresh elections.
|
