Bangalore: BJP Ministers' Mass Resignations and after
from daijiworld's political correspondent
with inputs from Bangalore bureau
Report coordinated by Richie Lasrado
Pics Akash Poojari Polali
Bangalore, Oct 3: CM Kumaraswamy refuses to resign. On the other hand, dyCM Yediyurappa and the BJP ministers resign en masse.
Doesn't the ploy sound familiar? Knowing very well the CM will not accept the resignations, which act would mean the downfall of his own government, the BJP has impressed the people of Karnataka. Will the resignations have any effect if they are not submitted to the governor of the state under the constitutional requirement?
All the 18 BJP ministers came in their official cars led by deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa to Kumaraswamy's home office 'Krishna' at 8.15 pm on Tuesday to hand over their resignation letters. The meeting with the CM was over in three minutes, less than the 10 minutes both parties had taken to come together on January 18, 2006.
Kumaraswamy, when informed about the imminent visit of the BJP ministers, denied any knowledge about it and commented: "I don't know about the BJP ministers coming here. They have been communicating everything through the media. If such a situation arises (resignation letters), I am going t relieve them free. Their behaviour has been childish for the last two days despite the party having senior leaders."
The BJP's apprehensions are not out of place. A state intelligence officer told daijiworld on condition of anonymity that in the wake of JD(S) impressive performance in recently-held local body elections pushing the BJP to a pale third place, reports have confirmed that, should mid-term elections be held immediately, JD(S) would on its own romp home with an absolute majority.
Poll fears
After getting troubleshooter Yashwant Sinha to hold parleys with Deve Gowda during his stay in Bangalore, now BJP's national president Rajnath Singh has reportedly assured Gowda that his party would not take things to the brink like withdrawing its support to Kumaraswamy until the JD(S) political affairs committee meets in Delhi on October 5.
At the same time, the JD(S) has been floating the impression that its legislators are against the hand-over of power to the BJP. Officially, the Gowdas have not said they would not hand over, but the only question that remains is 'when?'.
At heart, no one wants to go for elections at this stage, not even Congress. A prominent functionary of Congress drew the attention of this correspondent to the crucial date decided by JD(S) for a parliamentary board meet in Delhi. And that is the day when Congress president Sonia Gandhi would be back from her US trip. Could anytning be read between the lines? Putting two and two together, one would get the impression.
Congress view
Given Gowda's and JD(S) record of coalition struck after the 2004 elections with Congress and the way in which it dumped the Dharam Singh government half way through, the latter party is wary of having any truck with the former. But since Congress too is not prepared to go to polls at once in view of JD(S)' upper hand in the local bodies, the high command would not mind extending support to Kumaraswamy from outside. This way it could escape the accountability for the shortfalls and also keep JD(S) on its toes. Much attention would be on Sonia Gandhi's stand and how she would handle the issue after her return to Delhi on October 5.
But some of state Congress leaders are not averse to the idea of mid-term polls. "We have retained our top position in the urban local bodies elections, though the issues were different from the assembly election. We are ready to face mid-term polls anytime," said Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mallikarjun Kharge after a meeting of his party seniors.
All the bravado shown by the BJP leadership about being prepared to go for mid-term polls apart, many BJP legislators in private are against the idea, since no one wants to risk losing ministership and MLA posts. Worst come worst, most of them would not mind if Kumaraswamy would continue as chief minister for another 20 months. But they would not say it openly, lest they should incur the wrath of the party bosses.
With the Damocles' sword of mid-term polls hanging over their heads, the BJP's state leaders, in accordance with Rajnath Singh's assurance to Deve Gowda, have now subdued their verbal fireworks and are resigned to the fate of waiting until October 5.
Hard bargain
In this situation, Deve Gowda could be trying to prove the point that the BJP does not in fact want to go to the polls, while JD(S) could afford to do it.
The BJP ministers did something more to impress the people of the state. They drove in their official vehicles to 'Krishna', the CM's official residence, to hand over the bunch of resignations with a covering note from state party chief D V Sadananda Gowda and drove back in private vehicles.
Later, Kumaraswamy termed the resignation by BJP ministers "childish, unwarranted and in haste". He further said, "The legislators will be bound by whatever decision the PAC takes and we are one on this. There was no need for BJP ministers to resign. I never refused to quit. They acted in haste."
Kumaraswamy went a step ahead and warned the BJP that it will have to own responsibility for the consequences, if any, on the future of the government.
The meeting of JD(S) legislature party, presided over by Kumaraswamy, went on for over three hours and it unanimously decided to leave the power transfer issue to the October 5 parliamentary affairs committee (PAC) meeting to be held in Delhi.
The CM also said that if the BJP had maintained patience, the transfer of power would have been smooth, but now with its acts, it had complicated the processs. The way BJP has behaved in the past two days has eroded the level of confidence and trust between the two coalition partners, he rued.
Technicality
The whole episode is getting a curious turn with the JD(S) leaders pointing out a loophole in the so-called coalition pact. Technically, Kumaraswamy-led legislators, as at February 2006, constituted a breakaway group which came out of the coalition with Congress and decided to tie-up with the BJP. The BJP leaders are aware that the pact was not approved by party president Deve Gowda till a few weeks after January 2006, when Kumaraswamy and some 40 JD (S) MLAs broke away from a Congress-led coalition to join hands with the BJP.
The coalition pact did not have the party sanction and the Gowda father-and-son combine appears to harp on this technical point to dodge the hand-over. Not that this comes as a surprise to the BJP or political observers. Ever since Merajuddin Patel took over as the state JD(S) president a few months ago, he has been harping on this point, as a forerunner of future events that were to unfold.
There is a general feeling among the political parties here that it was not that Kumaraswamy or JD(S) is not prepared to hand over power. Gowda and his supporters are only making a hard bargain to retain some of the portfolios with themselves. The prominent among them are home, held by M P Prakash and public works, held by Gowda's other son, H D Revanna.
Fears of future
One of the JD(S) functionaries told this correspondent in confidentiality that there was a consensus in the party that BJP, once it assumes power, was likely to ensure its supremacy by overriding and destroying JD(S). Further, with increased atrocities against the minorities and communal flare-ups esp. after February 2006, the situation would get worse. The BJP agenda to convert the Baba Budan Giri issue into a 'southern Ayodhya' would be easily fulfilled. It is likely to turn Karnataka into a communal cauldron and it is this prospect which JD(S) would like to prevent from happening, the JD(S) leader said.
Most JD(S) have realized that because of the coalition formed with the BJP, the latter could grow stronger in the state. Even in the event of a mid-term poll, if the BJP would be leading the coalition, JD(S) would have a tough time to fight, since the official machinery would be at BJP's disposal. JD(S) has already made captured a large chunk of urban votes in the local body polls. It wants to strengthen the gains, since the BJP has been the traditional favourite of the urban voters.
The JD(S) also feels that if the BJP, while being second in command in the government could level charges of bribery to the tune of Rs 150 crore and a murder against CM Kumaraswamy, it could do worse with its own chief minister in the saddle.
The 'covering' letter that covered so many points
Daijiworld was provided with a copy of the text of the covering letter from state president D V Sadananda Gowda, which accompanied the resignation letters submitted to Kumaraswamy.
D V SADANANDA GOWDA
Member of Parliament
Respected Sri H D Kumaraswamy
On an historic occasion 20 months ago, BJP-JD(S) parties came together under the banner of Karnataka Development Front (KDF) and formed a coalition government in Karnataka. The process of development received a new thurst under our Common Minimum Programme. We had development as our prime objective in this entire period. Through our two budgets, very many novel propeople projects were implemented. We profusely thank you for the opportunity given to B S Yediyurappa and his colleagues from the BJP to serve the people and also be partners in the process of giving special thrust to development and a new dimension to governance. We would like to draw your attention towards the agreement entered into between the two parties in the KDF. The focal point of the agreement is that of the total 40 months that was available for our government, both the parties had to share office of the CM equally. Accordingly, your kindself was allowed to be the CM for the first 20 months and now it is Yediyurappa’s turn to become the CM from the BJP. The agreement also made it mandatory that the portfolios held by the JD(S) would go to the BJP and vice versa.
Following the agreement, your kindself assumed office of the CM on February 3, 2006, and your term of 20 months concludes today, that is October 2, 2007. It is appropriate that your kindself demit the office today and subsequently allow BJP legislature party leader Yediyurappa to assume the office of the CM as per our agreement. Therefore, I request you to send in your resignation so as to facilitate his appointment as the CM to the governor alongwith the letter of support from the JD(S) legislature party. I earnestly feel that this should be done forthwith to avoid any possible constitutional crisis. Public life is built on the edifice of mutual trust. I fervently appeal to you to honour and abide by the solemn agreement. This is the true wish of the people of Karnataka too. I hope that the resignation letter and the letter of support would reach governor today, that is October 2.
I herewith enclose Yediyurappa’s letter of resignation to the post of the DyCM and also letters of resignation of all BJP ministers to enable your kindself to act earnestly and effect the transfer of power smoothly. We seek your co-operation and support for Yediyurappa to lead the government successfully as CM for the next 20 months, as per the agreement made between us. With warm regards,
Yours sincerely
D V Sadananda Gowda
Member of Parliament, State president, BJP Bangalore.
October 2, 2007
Tuesday late night update
Bangalore: Yediyurappa, BJP Ministers Resign en Masse
from various sources
with pics from Akash Poojari Polali
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (MB)
- JD(S) urges Kumaraswamy not to quit
- Yediyurappa says the step is to pave way for smooth handover
- CM asks Yediyurappa not to take hurried step
- BJP minister Ashok expresses full confidence in Kumaraswamy
Bangalore, Oct 2 (10-30 pm): Karnataka deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday submitted resignation of BJP ministers, including that of himself, to chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.
All's well...CM Kumaraswamy greets dyCM Yediyurappa at a function to launch of BBMP projects, setting aside the political developments
'Now is not the time for political bickerings...' - DyCM Yediyurappa exchanges greetings with Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Dharam Singh and D Manjunath on the occasion of unveiling of Babu Jagjivan Ram's statue in Bangalore.
BJP Leaders D H Shankar Murthy, Ananth Kumar, Sadananda Gowda, Yashwant Sinha, Venkaiah Naidu, Yediyurappa, Eshwarappa and MLC`s and MLA`s at the legislature meeting at Yediyurappa's residence in Bangalore on Tuesday.
Earlier, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, insisted that the power-sharing agreement reached 20 months ago was sacrosanct and that the JD(S) should honour it.
The deadline for chief minister H D Kumraswamy to tender his resignation to governor Rameshwar Thakur, is over and we had to act, added Sinha.
"It is entirely up to chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, to take the next steps. Even at this stage, we want the coalition government to continue," Sinha said.
Meanwhile, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has told the BJP Ministers who resigned today that he will take a decision on power transfer on October 5.
JD-S leaders ask Kumaraswamy not to resign
New Delhi: The power struggle in Karnataka on Tuesday reached a flash point with the JD-S leadership asking chief minister H D Kumaraswamy not to resign.
"We have asked him (Kumaraswamy) not to resign," party spokesman, Danish Ali, told PTI here.
He said the Political Affairs Committee of the party will meet here on Friday to take stock of the development in the state.
Under the power-sharing pact, Kumaraswamy is supposed to demit office on October 3, making way for BJP's B S Yediyurappa to take over the Chief Ministership.
The BJP has stuck to its deadline that Kumaraswamy should tender his resignation to the Governor today and hand over a letter of support.
The man believed to be stalling the transfer of power, former prime minister and JD(S) national president HD Deve Gowda, said once again there will be no developments before October 5.
"On October 5 of this month we are going to meet in Delhi. Political Affairs Committee will take a final decision on all these matters. Please wait till then," said Gowda, President, JD(S).
As October 3, the agreed date for the handover of the Chief Minister's post got closer, the two parties headed for a confrontation.
Twenty months of a JD(S) Chief Minister followed by 20 months for the BJP - that was the agreement.
And the BJP said that in Karnataka's political version of Twenty20 cricket, it is now the BJP's turn to bat.
"We have fielded and bowled for 20 months, now it is our time to bat. There is no scope for negotiation. October 3 is our deadline and the Chief Minister must resign by the evening of October 2,'' said Yashwant Sinha, BJP Leader.
But as political meetings followed, speculations flew around and not everyone in the JD(S) was in the mood to meet the BJP's deadline.
"What deadline, what agreement was there between the two parties? There was an agreement between Kumaraswamy and Yediyurappa. He now has to listen to the party," said JD (S) state president.
The BJP said the power transfer has to happen, even as the JD(S) says there was no agreement between the parties, only between individuals.
Power Play - Karnataka: