No plans to dissolve Karnataka assembly: BJP

Bangalore: Karnataka’s ruling BJP on Monday asserted that it was not planning to dissolve the assembly before its tenure ended though several party legislators have quit and are threatening to leave the house and the party. “There is no question of dissolution. All reports about the party mulling such a move are mere speculation,” state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief KS Eshwarappa told reporters in Bangalore.  "Even if some more legislators quit, our government is safe and will complete the term (which ends in May)," he said. He was replying to questions on whether the BJP central leadership has advised the state leaders to dissolve the house instead of trying to prove its majority in case more party legislators to leave. Elections to the 225-member assembly that includes one nominated member are due in May. The speculation about assembly dissolution has been on for weeks now as the resignations of BJP assembly members from the house has reduced the party’s strength to 104, including the speaker. The party has the support of one of the seven Independents. Resignations of two more BJP assembly members are pending with the speaker and another member has announced he would quit soon. The combined opposition strength, including six independents, stands at 102. Meanwhile Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj said that the situation has not reached a stage needing his intervention. He told reporters at a function in Bangalore that he was not concerned about the resignations and would act according to the law. Bhardwaj noted that polls to 208 urban local bodies have already been announced (they are scheduled for March 7) and elections to the assembly were also due soon. IANS