Two Congress MLAs in Karnataka resign. Will coalition govt fall?

The wobbly coalition government in Karnataka suffered a jolt on Monday after two Congress MLAs—Vijayanagar's Anand Singh and Gokak's Ramesh Jarkiholi—resigned from the Assembly, The Indian Express reported. "Yes. I have resigned. Today morning, I submitted the resignation," Singh said. The move comes as a jolt to the JDS-Congress coalition government in Karnataka, amid speculations of a political coup. 

Singh, who submitted his resignation to Speaker Ramesh Kumar on Monday morning, stated he wants justice for his district and he was opposed to the government selling the land to Jindal company. "I have resigned and I also met the governor to apprise him of the same. I am not against industries. But I feel such huge a parcel of land [3667 acres] should be given on lease and not sold. The matter has been referred to the cabinet sub-committee now. I also want my constituency to be declared as a separate district. On June 27, I had told that I would readily resign for the sake of my district and I have done it," said Singh, denying that his resignation had anything to do with the Operation Kamala (BJP's bid to woo rebel MLAs) to topple the government.

In the evening, Gokak's Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who claimed to be in Mumbai, faxed his resignation letter to the speaker. The speaker's office acknowledged it had received Singh's resignation letter, but did not confirm the same in Jarkiholi's case. Singh said he will meet Governor Vajubhai Vala and narrate the developments.

The timing of the resignation has worried the coalition partners as Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is in the US on an invitation from Adichunchangiri Mutt, to lay the foundation stone for the Kalabhyraveshwar Temple (of Nath tradition) in New Jersey.

According to sources, the chief minister and the Congress leaders are trying to pacify the disgruntled MLAs, luring them with cabinet berths. At least five senior Congress ministers have offered to quit the cabinet to pave way for rebel legislators and to save the coalition.

Ballari district in-charge minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed shock over the development. "I came to know about Anand Singh's resignation from the media and I am shocked.  He had told me he would not quit the Congress. He had joined the party in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. I don't know the reason behind his resignation," said Shivakumar.  

Stating that none of the legislators were in favour of a fresh election, Shivakumar said,  "No one resigns without some form of pressure. No one wants to face another election. Quitting is no big deal, but getting re-elected is. Those who want to join the BJP should find out from the BJP members about their fate."

Earlier in the day, BJP state president and leader of the opposition B.S. Yeddyurappa slammed the coalition for neglecting drought relief work. "The state is reeling under severe drought. More than 570 revenue circles are facing acute water shortage of water and rain. But, the chief minister is on a trip to America. I will tour the drought-affected regions," said Yeddyurappa. 

Yeddyurappa warned the coalition that the BJP would not be responsible if the government collapsed under its own weight.

"Anand Singh's resignation authenticates my claim that there is large scale uneasiness within the Congress. At least 20 legislators are disgruntled. Our priority is not resignation,  but the drought situation in the state." 

When asked if the BJP would step in if the coalition crumbles, Yeddyurappa said, "We will watch the developments. We will explore the Constitutional provision to form a government only after this government collapses. There is no question of fresh elections as we are 105 members and have the right to stake claim to form the government," asserted Yeddyurappa.

KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao said the two resignations were of no consequence to the stability of the coalition. Senior Congress leaders went into a huddle in former chief minister Siddaramaiah's residence.  

At the height of dissidence in the Congress last year, Singh had disappeared and was incommunicado. However, he surfaced and showed his allegiance to the party. Earlier in January, he had come to blows with another Congress MLA J.N. Ganesh at a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Ganesh had accused him of finishing him politically. A badly injured Singh was later admitted to hospital. Reports were rife that at least six more MLAs from Congress would also rebel against their party.

-Inputs from PTI