Political crisis in Karnataka further deepens

The political crisis in Karnataka has further deepened after two independent MLAs - H Nagesh and R Shankar withdrew their support to the HD Kumaraswamy government. The two independents flew to Mumbai to join the 13 rebel Congress and JD(S) Legislators. They also extended their support to BJP. The strength of Congress-JD(S) coalition in the 224 member assembly has come down to 103. The opposition BJP now has a support of 107 MLAs. The party has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy saying that the government has lost its majority. Karnataka Assembly Speaker K Ramesh will take up the resignations of 13 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs today.  

In the last ditch effort to save the coalition government, all Congress and JD(S) Ministers resigned yesterday to enable a cabinet reshuffle so that rebel MLAs could be inducted into the Cabinet.  The rebel



MLAs, however, rejected the offer. 

The strength of Congress JDs coalition government has slipped to 104 after two independents withdraw their support and 13 MLAs tendered their resignation. In a move to save the government, the Congress and JDS got all their ministers to resign. The 34 member Cabinet headed by Kumaraswamy has 33 Vacant positions, 22 of the Congress and 11 of the JDS. Siddaramaiah has asked the rebels to return with a promise to accommodate them in the cabinet. The Congress has called for a legislative party meeting under Siddaramaiah today with a warning that absence of MLAs will be viewed seriously. The Speaker is also going to look into the resignation letters submitted by 13 MLAs. The discussion in the political circle is whether anti-defection law can be applied against rebels for violating the whip.