Two MLAs withdraw support to K'taka govt; HDK unfazed
New Delhi: In a blow to the Congress-JDS coalition in Karnataka, two MLAs Tuesday withdrew support to the government headed by H D Kumaraswamy.
H Nagesh (Independent) and R Shankar (KPJP) have written to governor Vajubhai Vala conveying their decision.
In separate identical letters, available to the media here, the lawmakers said they were withdrawing support extended to the coalition government of the Congress and the JDS with immediate effect.
The MLAs, who are now staying in a Mumbai hotel, requested the governor to take "necessary action."
Both the Congress and the BJP have been accusing each other of trying to lure legislators.
Dismissing any threat to the Congress-JDS dispensation in the state after two MLAs withdrew their support, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Tuesday said his government was stable and he was "totally relaxed".
Seeking to put up a brave front, Kumaraswamy said, "I know my strength. My government is stable. Don't worry."
He added, "Whatever are the episodes in our Kannada (TV) channels going on from last one week I am enjoying it."
Taking a swipe at the BJP, the chief minister said, "What is going to happen? If two independents declare support (to BJP). What will be the numbers? I am totally relaxed."
Even though there is a strong buzz that three MLAs of the Congress may 'join' BJP, the Congress general secretary KC Venugopal is confident of continuation of the coalition government in the state.
While talking to Millennium Post, Venugopal said that the government would continue despite the BJP's "ugly and dirty" horse-trading attempts. The Congress leader alleged that the MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) ruling combine was being offered great inducements by the BJP to switch sides, but we are confident that the Kumaraswamy government will continue.
However, in a precautionary measure to put down any poaching attempt by the ruling coalition in Karnataka, the Opposition BJP has shifted its MLAs to a resort in Haryana's Nuh district near the national capital.
According to sources, BJP state president Yeddyurappa, former chief minister Jagadish Shettar and other senior leaders like Shobha Karandlaje are among the 104 MLAs staying put in the ITC Grand Bharat resort in Hasanpur Tauru in Nuh district since Monday.
The sources further said that the BJP legislators had been shifted to the resort in an attempt to keep the flock together and thwart any poaching attempt by the Congress-JD(S) combine.
