Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy will not step down

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with top leaders of Coalition partner Congress at Kumara Krupa Guest House here on Thursday, he claimed that there was no immediate threat to his government and expressed confidence that all those 16 MLAs who had tendered their resignation to their seats would withdraw and extend support to the government.

He said in 2009 when BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa was the chief minister, he did not quit when 18 legislators had rebelled against him.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today asked the 10 rebel MLAs, including seven from Congress and three from JD(S), to meet the Assembly Speaker before 6pm today. The 10 legislators had approached the apex court saying that the Speaker was delaying the acceptance of their resignation letters and there was a conspiracy to disqualify them under Anti Defection law by the Speaker.

The apex court, before adjourning further hearing of the case to tomorrow, had also asked Karnataka DGP to provide security to the ‘rebel’ MLAs when they meet the Speaker.

JD(S) rebel leader A.H. Vishwanath speaking at Renaissance hotel in Mumbai said he welcomes the Supreme Court direction and all the 10 MLAs would meet the Speaker in Bengaluru today as per its direction. They would be on a special flight from Mumbai today, information reaching here quoted him as saying.

He said if the Speaker insists that some of the resignation letters by rebel MLAs was not in order they would submit fresh resignation letters. "We are united and there is no question of the 10 legislators who are now in Mumbai going back on their decision to quit their seats," he said.

The Kumaraswamy government is facing a severe threat of falling into minority as 16 MLAs have tendered resignation to their seats. Before the latest developments the government had the support of 119 members including two Independents and the Speaker.

If their resignation is accepted, the number will fall to 103. It will further fall to 101 as the two Independents, who were recently made ministers, have already withdrawn their support to the government.

This would effectively bring down the house to 206 if the resignation letters of the ‘rebel’ legislators are accepted. Then the simple majority mark will fall to 104. Then the coalition government would have support of only 101 legislators. The opposition BJP at present has a strength of 105 MLAs on its own and the two independents have also extended their support to the BJP.