In a major twist ahead of the trust vote in Karnataka Assembly, Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday claimed the JD(S) was ready to sacrifice the chief minister's post to save the coalition government. He said the JD(S) wanted either Siddaramaiah, G. Parameshwara or Shivakumar himself to be the chief minister.
The development comes even as both the Congress and the JD(S) are making last-ditch efforts to woo back the rebel MLAs whose resignations have pushed the Kumaraswamy government to the brink of collapse.
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"JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda has spoken to the Congress party high command. Gowda is not opposed to any of the Congress leader becoming chief minister. He has said that Parameshwara, Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar may become chief minister," Shivakumar told reporters.
The government had defied on July 19 the two deadlines set by Governor Vajubhai Vala to prove majority after the ministry was wracked by a raft of resignations by rebel MLAs.
According to reports, the government was still trying to prolong the discussion on the confidence motion moved by the chief minister on Thursday, hoping for some kind of relief from the Supreme Court.
Kumaraswamy and the Congress had moved the Supreme Court on Friday, accusing the governor of interfering with the Assembly proceedings when the debate on the trust vote was underway and sought clarification on its July 17 order, which they said,caused hindrance in issuing whip to the legislators.
If the ruling coalition tries to delay the proceedings on Monday also,all eyes will be on the next move by the governor, who has been keeping the Centre posted on the unfolding drama in the state.
As many as 16 MLAs—13 from the Congress and three from JDS—had resigned, while independent MLAs R. Shankar and H. Nagesh have withdrawn their support to the coalition government, putting the government to the precipice.
One Congress member Ramalinga Reddy retracted, saying he would support the government.
The ruling combine's strength is 117—Congress 78, JD(S) 37, BSP 1, and nominated 1, besides the Speaker.
With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 MLAs in the 225-member House, including the nominated MLA and the speaker.
If the resignations of 15 MLAs (12 from Congress and three from JDS) are accepted or if they stay away, the ruling coalition's tally will plummet to 101, (excluding the speaker) reducing the government to a minority.
The coalition strength would fall further to 98, as two Congress MLAs are unlikely to attend due to health reasons, while BSP MLA Mahesh, is not showing up, amid reports that he was keeping away as he has not received any directions from the party leader Mayawati on the stand to be taken on the trust vote.
BJP'ss strength is also likely to come down to 106, as Shankar who has extended support to the saffron party will not attend the session, according to sources, fearing poaching by Congress as the speaker has not accepted his request for his seating arrangement along with opposition.
With inputs from PTI
