M A I N   N E W S

Karnataka Guv submits report
BJP threatens to parade MLAs
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, October 31
Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur today put the ball over the re-formation of a BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) government in the Centre’s court by submitting his report on the entire matter to the President.

The Governor is being pressurised for the past five days by the BJP-JD(S) combine to accept its claim to form a coalition government in the state less than one month after the coalition partners split resulting in the promulgation of President’s rule in the state.

Sources said the Governor could only invite the coalition to form a government after the President’s rule is revoked. They said the Governor had sent his report to the President on the present situation in the state after holding consultations with legal experts.

The BJP, meanwhile, indicated that it was in no mood to reduce the pressure on the Governor and held a protest rally on the Mahatama Gandhi road. It also threatened to take all 129 legislators supporting the new coalition to the President in case it was not invited to form a government by this evening.

The BJP today flew in senior leader Sushma Swaraj, who demanded the Governor swear in senior leader B.S.Yediyurappa and give him seven to 10 days to prove his majority. Swaraj alleged that there was no other recourse for the Governor, as the assembly was in suspended animation even though the purpose of this move had been to give the Congress enough time to cobble up a majority by splitting the JD (S). Swaraj also claimed that the party would go to the Supreme Court if it did not get justice.

The BJP’s rally on the Mahatama Gandhi road, which was attended by around 10,000 people, threw traffic out of gear. JD (S) leaders, including its state president Merajuddin Patel, attended the rally in a show of solidarity with its coalition partner.

The protesters, however, did not proceed towards Raj Bhawan due to an appeal made in this regard by the Governor last evening. The BJP also, however, announced that it would launch a statewide agitation covering all district headquarters in the state from November 2 in case the coalition was not invited to form a government immediately.

Advani meets PM
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 31
A high-level BJP delegation led by leader of the opposition L.K. Advani today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stress for revocation of President’s rule in Karnataka to pave the way for the installation of JD (S)-BJP government in the state.

The delegation of BJP MPs in company of party chief Rajnath Singh told the Prime Minister that four days have passed since the BJP-JD(S) combine staked claim for formation of government but Governor Rameshwar Thakur has not yet recommended the revocation of President’s rule.

BJP leaders also brought to PM’s notice Congress’ demand for the dissolution of the Assembly and contended that the BJP-JD (S) combine has got the support of 129 MLAs in the 224-member house.

Manmohan Singh assured the delegation that the Centre would go by the spirit of the Constitution but did not give any specific timeframe regarding lifting of President’s rule in the state, BJP vice-president Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the 30-minute meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence here.

The Prime Minister suggested that the Governor should be given reasonable time. But we told him that four days have passed since we handed over the letter staking formation of government headed by B.S. Yeddiyurappa, Naidu said.

BJP leaders drew the Prime Minister’s attention to a Supreme Court observation in connection with dissolution of Bihar Assembly earlier that shifting stands of political parties cannot be the ground for the dissolution of the Assembly.

The JD(S) and BJP were running a coalition government in the state till October 7 when they parted ways after the former refused to transfer chief ministership to the saffron party.

The two parties fell apart as the JD(S) refused to hand over chief ministership after 20 months as per a power-sharing agreement with the BJP. The saffron party then withdrew support leading to imposition of President’s rule.

The political drama in the state saw another twist last Saturday when the JD(S) dramatically decided to extend support to the BJP after the Congress arrived at an arrangement with JD(S) leader M.P. Prakash to form a government.

During the meeting with the Prime Minister, Rajnath Singh drew his attention to the developments in Jharkhand earlier when Independent MLA Madhu Koda was sworn in as Chief Minister with the support of the Congress after the fall of the BJP government.

Rajnath told the Prime Minister to ensure that such a situation would not be repeated in Karnataka, Naidu said apparently referring to the JD(S) rebel Prakash’s recent attempts to form a government with the Congress support.

The objective of placing an Assembly under suspended animation inter alia is to explore the possibility of formation of a popular government so that the Assembly may ordinarily complete its five-year tenure, the leaders pointed out in a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister.

JD(S) sets 11 conditions

New Delhi, October 31
After extending support to the BJP to form government in Karnataka, JD(S) tonight came up with an 11-point list of conditions for government by the saffron party in the state, which includes parting of ways by the two allies in the event of snap polls to the Lok Sabha.

JD(S) president H. D. Deve Gowda sent a draft “MoU” sent to BJP headquarters here which also demands that the BJP adheres to a "strict secular" code and ensure protection of minorities and backward classes, BJP sources said.

Unlike the arrangement 20 months ago between the state leadership of both parties, this time JD(S) wants the BJP central leadership to ratify the agreement before moving ahead in government-formation.

JD(S) said its support to the BJP was not unconditional. — PTI