New Delhi: As the political crisis in Karnataka deepened on Saturday, the government led by the ruling alliance of Congress and JDS is under 'great' threat as 11 legislators from the ruling coalition government have tendered their resignations to the office of the Speaker. However, the Speaker had not yet accepted the resignation of legislators.
Meanwhile, resort politics returned to haunt the Congress-JDS coalition government with 10 MLAs, who submitted their resignation, leaving for Mumbai on Saturday. These MLAs are likely to stay in a Hotel there, sources close to them said. They left by a chartered flight, they said.
Interestingly, the ball is now in the court of the Speaker. According to political experts, if the Speaker accepts the resignation of all the 11 MLAs, the strength of the House would be reduced to 213 and the ruling alliance would need the strength of 107 MLAs to remain seated in power.
"In this case, the ruling coalition would crash and they wouldn't be able to prove their majority if Governor allows a vote of confidence," the expert said. However, Congress leaders have expressed their confidence in saving the government from BJP's attempt to topple it.
Notably, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is still in the USA on holiday and he is expected to be back by Sunday while the Congress has sent its state in-charge KC Venugopal to control the damage and keep its legislators intact.
Eleven legislators submitted their resignations to the Speaker on Saturday evening, while he was not in office. Ten of these legislators also met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan.
"We have given our resignation to the Speaker's office. We have brought this to the notice of the Governor as well. We urge that our resignations be accepted," H Vishwanath, a JDS lawmaker said after meeting the Governor. Vishwanath was removed as JDS state president just days ago.
The Congress and JDS together have 116 in the 224-member state assembly where 113 is the majority mark. The coalition will crash if 14 lawmakers quit. The year-old coalition that remained unstable from the start has struggled with revolt and infighting since it came to power in May last year. This time, it is Congress loyalist Ramalinga Reddy who is preparing to cross over with a group of lawmakers.
"I have come to submit my resignation to the Speaker," Ramalinga Reddy told reporters while waiting at Speaker Ramesh Kumar's office.