Karnataka political crisis: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy says govt safe, BS Yeddyurappa denies BJP involvement

Thirteen MLAs of the ruling JD(S)-Congress alliance in Karnataka submitted their resignations at the Speaker’s office in Bengaluru on Saturday, putting a question mark on the survival of the 13-month government. [caption id=“attachment_6947011” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Rebel MLAs from Congress and JD(S) met Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala after submitting their resignations. Twitter @ANI[/caption] The crisis, which had been brewing ever since the BJP swept the parliamentary polls in the state, deepened as eight MLAs of the Congress and three of the JD(S) reached the Speaker’s office to put in their papers and later met Governor Vajubhai Vala at the Raj Bhavan. If their resignation is accepted, the wobbly ruling coalition will lose its majority in the 224-member Assembly. Here is how eminent political leaders reacted: Janata Dal (Secular)

Karnataka chief minister and JDS chief HK Kumaraswamy confirmed that the MLAs had submitted their resignations to the Speaker and said that the decision will be taken by the Speaker at the appropriate time. He added, “At present the government is safe, it’s safe now. They will come back to us, no one will go.”

Kolar legislator and former minister K Srinivasa Gowda has ruled out the possibility of resignation. He said that he would not go against democratic principles. Srinivasa Gowda expressed shock at the resignation of senior leaders like Ramalinga Reddy and H Viswanath. Ramalinga Reddy was an aspirant of ministerial berth and might have been upset as seniority was neglected in the party, he added. When asked for his reaction on the MLAs submitting their resignations, JD(S) leader and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda on Congress-JD(S) said, “I’m not going to react anything, I have not spoken anything to anybody. I’m only holding my party workers meeting just to prepare ourselves for the corporation polls.”

JD(S) leader and former PM HD Deve Gowda on Congress-JD(S) MLAs submitting their resignations: I'm not going to react anything, I have not spoken anything to anybody. I'm only holding my party workers meeting just to prepare ourselves for for the corporation polls. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/gCaQq23Baj

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2019

Bharatiya Janata Party Speaking to reporters on the reasons behind the resignations of Congress and JD(S) legislators, BJP’s DV Sadananda Gowda said, “They thought it’s high time that they come out of that party and resign from the legislators’ post. They felt that continuing as MLAs will not be good in the larger interest of their constituencies and the state.” On being asked if BJP will form government in Karnataka, he said, “Governor is the supreme authority, as per the constitutional mandate if he calls us, certainly we are ready to form the government. We are the single largest party, we have got 105 people with us.” Veteran BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa denied BJP’s involvement in the resignation of the MLAs .

BS Yeddyurappa, BJP: Me & my party have nothing to do with developments in other rival parties. I heard through media that Congress-JDS legislators have resigned from their Karnataka Assembly seats. I'm categorically reiterating that BJP has absolutely no say on the issue. pic.twitter.com/5roZgOirEQ

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2019

Reacting to the resignation of the 11 MLAs, BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao said, “Congress-JD(S) coalition has been rejected by people of Karnataka. Despite their coalition in Lok Sabha polls, BJP won a massive mandate. It clearly shows the mood of people. MLAs certainly seem to be facing brunt of public anger against coalition.”

Congress Reacting to the Congress-JD(S) MLAs submitting their resignations, Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar said, “They are telling some small stories, this is not the story to go and resign. It is shocking for all of us, I think good sense will prevail upon them.” Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking from  New Delhi, said the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in Karnataka will not collapse. “Whatever is happening in Karnataka is very unfortunate,” says Congress leader PC Chacko, adding that other senior leaders could comment on the nitty-gritty of the matter. Omar Abdullah (National Conference) The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir tweeted that the move by the MLAs was expected.

Looks like it’s curtains for another non-BJP state government. Can’t say this wasn’t expected. Most observers saw this coming a mile away. https://t.co/ZiVO4MA5Jd

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 6, 2019