KA-KUMARASWAMY

Karnataka govt will collapse any time, says former CM
Bengaluru, Sep 20 (PTI) JD(S) leader and former Karnataka
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday predicted that the B
S Yediyurappa-led BJP government "may collapse any time."
"If I have to make a political prediction... I'm not an
astrologer for that, but looking at the way in which this
government is going, looking at its conduct this government
may collapse any time...lets wait and see," he told
reporters in Channapatna.
Meanwhile, reacting to statements predicting mid-term
polls, Minister and senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa ruled out
any possibility of such polls.
He, however said there may be by-elections to fill 17
seats that have fallen vacant following the disqualification
of Congress-JD(S) rebel MLAs.
Days after indicating that his party was still open for
continuing its alliance with the Congress,Kumaraswamys father
and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda too had recently predicted
mid-term elections, and said his party would go it alone.
Stating that there may be assembly elections in January
or February, he had said he and Kumaraswamy would tour the
state to strengthen the party.
Also repeatedly predicting the mid-term polls, Congress
leader Siddaramaiah had said the BJP government cannot survive
for long as it has come to power with the help of 17
Congress-JD(S) disqualified MLAs.
Reacting to Siddaramaiahs comments, one of the 17
disqualified MLAs S T Somashekar questioned whether the former
Chief Minister was the Election Commissions agent to give
such predictions.
"He (Siddaramaiah) has said polls will come, is it
authentic? If he was the Election Commissions agent, okay,
but he is not...Congress and JD(S) leaders are saying such
things because that feel they have to keep making such
statements," he said.
The absence and resignation of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs
during the trust vote had led to the collapse of the
Kumaraswamy-headed coalition government in July, and helped
the BJP come to power.
The then assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar had disqualified
17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs under the anti-defection law, which
they have challenged in the Supreme Court. PTI KSU NVG
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)