NEWS

Karnataka power tussle is on

By Vicky Nanjappa in Bangalore
October 01, 2007 08:33 IST

Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has said that though he has every intention of leaving the post as promised,  but his MLAs do not want him to do so.

Saying that he was keen on keeping his promise, Kumaraswamy said he had "intentions" to resign on October 3.

He, however, added that the Janata Dal (S) MLAs were against it. He said that a meeting of the Janata Dal (S) legislature party had been convened on Monday evening in which he would convince his MLAs about his resignation. He also said that the meeting had been called specifically for this.

When questioned whether he would transfer power to the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said there was almost 48 hours left. He said that it was too early to say anything about the transfer of power as 48 hours was a very long time in politics.

                Read Karnataka Coverage: Power Tussle 

"Wait and watch and see what happens," the chief minister said.

However, sources said the Janata Dal legislature party meeting had been convened only to pass a resolution against Kumaraswamy's resignation. Deve Gowda, the party's leader, too had indicated that in the event of Kumaraswamy putting in his papers, the party would reject it.

The BJP, meanwhile, is playing its cards close to its heart and has convened a meeting on Monday to discuss the issue. The first task that the BJP has on its hands is to convince the JD(S) on transferring power as was agreed 20 months ago.

The other will be to convince party members to go in for elections, in case power is not transferred.

Vicky Nanjappa in Bangalore

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