A psychological edge given to the BJP by JD(S)-Congress government

Bangalore: HD Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress government has given the BJP a psychological edge as the two Independent MLAs withdrew their support from the government.

Since Saturday in Mumbai, the Congress MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi, Bheema Naik, JN Ganesh, Pratap Gouda Patil, Mahesh Kammanahalli, and Umesh Jadhav, besides Independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh have been camping.

On Tuesday, the only hope for the BJP were similarly worded letters to the Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Vala by Nagesh and Shankar, which was conveying their decision to withdraw support to the Kumaraswamy government with immediate effect. Their letters, however, will not have any bearing on the Kumaraswamy government as Congress-JD(S) combine has 118 MLAs as against the required number of 113 while the BJP with the two MLAs will reach 106
All MLAs are in excellent spirits. Earlier they went for a swim twice a day but have stopped now fearing someone recording a video. Even they don’t know what the next round of instructions from Delhi will be, but they sure like the seafood here,” a BJP functionary in Mumbai said.

BJP corporator from Andheri East, Murji Patel, is in-charge of ‘security’ at the hotel. “Patel has been tasked with ensuring that the MLAs don’t meet anyone apart from the BJP leaders. Since Saturday, senior BJP leaders and office-bearer from Mumbai have also kept away. While the top party leaders in Mumbai are aware of the situation, they have been asked to stay away,” the functionary said. 

Though BJP camp appeared confident, sources indicated that there was no clarity on what is happening. “We are not sure whether we have the numbers or not. None of the MLAs, MPs or senior leaders know,’’ said a senior leader who is camping in the seven-star hotel in Gurugram.

Sources Meanwhile, sources said that Yeddyurappa, who is in a now-or-never attempt to return to power, is said to have sought one more day to mobilise adequate numbers. It is said that after he failed to get the numbers, top leaders including Shah asked him to focus on the Lok Sabha elections instead.

Speaker Ramesh Kumar has a crucial role to play in the entire episode as he has the discretion to accept the resignations of MLAs besides powers to take disciplinary action or referring the case to be probed by competent authority.