Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SP)

Mumbai, Jul 8: The rebel Congress MLAs, who have been camping in Mumbai’s Sofitel Hotel, on Sunday refused to withdraw their resignations and said they won’t attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Tuesday.

Speaking to media persons, one of the dissident MLA's from the Congress party, S T Somashekhar, stated that he and his fellow MLAs had sent in their resignation letters to the assembly speaker and also kept the state governor informed about this development. Accompanied by nine other MLAs, he told the press that all the legislators who have resigned are together. He added that they would be joined by Ramalinga Reddy, Muniratna and Anand Singh, who have also resigned, on Monday.

The MLAs asserted there is no question of withdrawing their resignations. They said they will not attend the Congress legislature party meeting, duly adding that they have not demanded for change in chief minister or put forth demand for a particular person to be made the chief minister.

JD(S) dissident legislator Gopalayya and Hirekerur MLA from the Congress B C Patil, also said they stand by what Somashekhar has said.

Some sources said that more legislators are likely to resign from both the Congress and the JD(S) on Tuesday or Wednesday. The BJP is planning to keep its flock together in view of efforts being made by the coalition leaders to attract its MLAs. An all-important legislature party meet of the BJP is being held at 5 pm on Monday July 8, as the party has been taking enough care to see that it does not fail in proving majority when the time comes.