Kumaraswamy has lost majority, moral right to remain CM: Yeddyurappa

Both the BJP, Congress-JD(S) are holding separate protests over the Karnataka crisis

BJP protest Gandhi Statue supplied BJP leaders protesting against the political crisis in Karnataka at the Gandhi Statue in Bengaluru | Supplied

BJP Karnataka unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa on Wednesday declared H.D. Kumaraswamy had lost his majority and the “moral right” to continue as chief minister.

Yeddyurappa was talking to mediapersons during a BJP protest at the Gandhi Statue in Bengaluru where the party is protesting against the ongoing political crisis engulfing the Kumaraswamy government. As many as 13 Congress and JD(S) MLAs submitted their resignations last week, while two independent legislators switched their backing to the BJP, leaving the Kumaraswamy government on the brink of collapse. Most of these MLAs left for Mumbai on Saturday.

Yeddyurappa said, “the conduct of the legislature session is possible only if the government has the majority. I believe you [Kumaraswamy] will step down immediately. I also believe your father, former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, will also advise you the same. Today, the legislators who resigned have petitioned the Supreme Court.”

Yeddyurappa also referred to Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar, who is in Mumbai to try to meet the rebel MLAs. Yeddyurappa appealed to Shivakumar, “If you have trust in democracy, you should give up your efforts to reach out to the legislators against their will. You have tried to prevent MLAs from tendering their resignation at the speaker's office. You have also torn a resignation letter, which is deplorable.” Shivakumar had declared he would attempt to convince the rebel MLAs to return to Karnataka.

Yeddyurappa requested Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar to accept the resignations of the 13 MLAs “without further delay” and said he was confident the speaker would “uphold constitutional values”.

Kumar had officially taken note of the resignation letters on Tuesday and his decision—whether to accept the resignations or seek further clarifications—is crucial in deciding the fate of the Kumaraswamy government. The rebel MLAs on Saturday petitioned the Supreme Court, alleging the speaker was not acting on their resignation letters.

The BJP leaders are expected to meet Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala after the protest to apprise him of the situation.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and Congress leader Siddaramaiah are expected to join a protest against the BJP's alleged role in the political crisis outside Raj Bhavan later on Wednesday. The 'Save Democracy' protest by the Congress and JD(S) will involve the likes of Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Ghulam Nabi Azad.