Face of Nation : Congress leader and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday arrived in Mumbai to meet the 10 dissident JD(S)-Congress legislators who have been staying at the Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai. The rebels, on the other hand, approached Mumbai Police, saying they felt “threatened” by their state leaders and do not want to meet them in this regard.
Shivakumar’s decision to meet the rebels comes a day after Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar rejected the resignations of nine of 14 coalition MLAs on the ground that they were not tendered in the correct format. The Speaker has fixed dates over the next six days to meet and interview the five MLAs whose resignations were found to be in order.
The Speaker’s decision gives the Congress-JD(S) combine breathing room to pull the government back from the brink of collapse — if the resignations were accepted, the alliance would have been reduced to a minority of 103 in the 224-member House, after two Independent MLAs, too, withdrew support and tendered resignations Monday.
‘Only have a heart, come to extend to my friends’: Shivakumar
Shivakumar, the Congress troubleshooter, said he will not leave without meeting the MLAs. “I only have a heart that I have come to extend to my friends…politics is an art of possibility,” he said.
How will Speaker’s decision affect BJP’s prospects in Karnataka?
The Speaker’s decision is likely to stall the Opposition BJP, which has 105 MLAs and the support of two Independents, from staking claim to form government when the Assembly convenes for a session to pass the state Budget on July 12. It also gives the Congress and JD(S) a chance to bring back many of the rebels back into coalition fold with the offer of Cabinet posts.
Karnataka Speaker rejects MLAs’ resignation
On Tuesday, in a breather for the precarious Congress-JD(S) coalition government, Karnataka Speaker Kumar rejected the resignations of nine of 14 coalition MLAs on the ground that they were not tendered in the correct format. The Speaker has fixed dates over the next six days to meet and interview the five MLAs whose resignations were found to be in order. The Speaker’s decision gives the Congress-JD(S) combine breathing room to pull the government back from the brink of collapse — if the resignations were accepted, the alliance would have been reduced to a minority of 103 in the 224-member House, after two Independent MLAs, too, withdrew support and tendered resignations Monday.
BJP to meet Karnataka Governor today
BJP leader Arvind Limbavali said a party delegation will meet Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala today. “We want the immediate intervention of the Governor and will decide our further course of action after our meeting him and the Speaker,” he said.
Do not allow them inside hotel’: Rebels urge Mumbai Police
Late Tuesday night, the 10 rebel MLAs camping in Mumbai since Saturday, approached the police seeking security as they feared that Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar would “storm” into the premises and threaten them when they reach Mumbai. In a letter addressed to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, the 10 MLAs said they don’t want to meet their state leaders who are on their way to Mumbai. “Kind request to help us in this matter and do not allow them to enter the hotel premises,” the letter read. Tight security cover — State Reserve Police and Riot Control Units — has been deployed around the hotel after the lawmakers’ letter.
Bengaluru: BJP leaders to stage dharna outside Vidhana Soudha
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa said, “We have decided to sit on dharna in front of Vidhana Soudha. We will meet the Speaker and the Governor.”
‘No question of threatening MLAs’: Shivakumar
After arriving at the Mumbai hotel, Shivakumar said, “I’ve booked a room here. My friends are staying here. There has been a small problem, we have to hold negotiations. We can’t go for a divorce immediately. There is no question of threatening. We love and respect each other.”
‘Came to meet our friends’: Shivakumar at Mumbai airport
While a huge contingent of force has been deployed outside Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai, Shivakumar, told ANI, “Let Mumbai Police or any other force be deployed. Let them do their duty. We’ve come to meet our friends. We were born together in politics, we will die together in politics. They are our party men. We have come to meet them.”
Congress leader Shivakumar arrives in Mumbai, rebels’ seek police help
Congress leader and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar today arrived in Mumbai to meet the 10 dissident JD(S)-Congress legislators who have been staying at the Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai. The rebels, on the other hand, approached Mumbai Police, saying they felt “threatened” by their state leaders and do not want to meet them in this regard. Follow our live blog for all the latest updates.
The Speaker’s decision is likely to stall the Opposition BJP, which has 105 MLAs and the support of two Independents, from staking claim to form government when the Assembly convenes for a session to pass the state Budget on July 12. It also gives the Congress and JD(S) a chance to bring back many of the rebels back into coalition fold with the offer of Cabinet posts.
On Monday, the entire state Cabinet resigned in an effort to woo back the rebels with prospects of being accommodated in a reshuffle.
“Of the 14 resignations, with the exception of Anand Singh, Narayana Gowda Prathapgouda Patil, Y Gopalaiah and Ramalinga Reddy, the others are not in the correct format. We have informed these MLAs that their resignations are not in order and that they can send it in the correct format if they desire,’’ said the Speaker. Incidentally, another Congress MLA R Roshan Baig joined the rebels Tuesday and tendered his resignation too.
