The cobbled-up Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal (S) alliance in Karnataka has finally been torn apart after teetering on the brink for the last few months.
Though, technically, the Kumaraswamy government has been reduced to a minority now, he will continue as the caretaker chief minister.But a betrayed BJP is in no mood to let Kumaraswamy even continue in such a capacity and will press for President's rule in the state.
Saying that a constitutional crisis is looming large on the state, BJP leader, B S Yediyurappa advocates President's rule until the next elections are held.
Top sources said after the BJP leader's meet in Bangalore, they will call on Governor Rameshwar Thakur and submit their resignation and also inform him about the withdrawal of support.
The Congress has also asked the Governor to intervene, stating that the administrative mechanism has collapsed in the state. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mallikarjun Kharge said that he spoke to the governor and apprised him of the crisis.
Sources said the only option left to avoid President's rule is the coming together of the Congress and the JD(S) to form a government. However, the JD(S) has ruled out any alliance with the Congress. H D Deve Gowda said he was ready to go in for elections. The Congress, however, remains the only party, who is not keen on mid-term polls, and is reportedly interested in forming a government by allying with the JD(S).
The Congress will hold a key meeting in Bangalore later in the day to take stock of the situation. For any combination to form the government, it should have 113 seats in the House. Now, the Congress has 64, JD(S)-57, BJP-79, JD(U) 5 and others 8. The JD(S) and BJP had 136 seats together while they formed the government. If the Congress and the JD(S) enter into a pact, then the two parties will just make it with 121 seats.