K'taka: BJP ministers quit cabinet

Making its intentions clear that it was not prepared for anything less than a smooth transfer of power, the Bharatiya Janata Party ministers in the Karnataka government handed over their resignations to state Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

The move came following the hour-long meeting of the party in Bangalore, necessitated by the Janata Dal-Secular's refusal to hand over power as promised on October 3.

Senior BJP leader Yeshwant Sinha, who is in charge of the Karnataka BJP, said it was unanimously decided that all ministers of the party in the coalition will submit their resignation to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday itself.

The BJP leader said that as per the agreement, the JD-S was to hand over power on Tuesday. The resignations were just a one-line letter.

"It is almost 8 pm and so far, there has been no word from the JD-S," he pointed out.

Prior to the ministers submitting their resignation, BJP state leader Sadananda Gowda prepared a covering note in which the view of the party's state leadership was made clear. After this letter was delivered, all BJP ministers submitted their resignations. 

Sinha said it was a matter of honouring the commitment and that was what the BJP intended on doing. He added that there would have been no problem if the JD-S had honoured their commitment.

"We are ready to talk with the JD-S. But one must not forget that the agreement is sacrosanct and has to be honoured at any cost," Yediyurappa said, adding that they had cooperated with the JD-S all the way.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who will participate in a JD-S legislature party meeting later in the evening, said the BJP should stop negotiations through the media and address the issue in a more patient manner.

Terming the BJP's move as childish, the chief minister said: "The day for transfer of power was October 3. Why did they have to jump the gun?"