Karnataka’s Coalition Govt is in a Coma: BJP Leader

A senior BJP leader claimed 20 to 25 disgruntled MLAs of the alliance were out of reach of the coalition leaders.

Bengaluru, Feb 2 (PTI): BJP in Karnataka Saturday todaytook a dig at the constant squabbling between rulingCongress-JD(S), saying it was in a 'coma' and expressed doubtswhether Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would even present thestate's second budget on February 8. Senior party leader and former Deputy Chief Ministerclaimed that 20 to 25 disgruntled MLAs of the alliance wereout of the reach of their leaders and the coalition governmentwas in a 'coma'. He referred to Kumaraswamy's reported statement at aJD(S) legislature party meeting that he was not a chiefminister for the last seven months, but 'just a clerk'. "Whether he will present the budget or not, it is a doubtfor us," he said. He reiterated that the BJP would not make any attempts totopple the government and asked both parties not to blame thesaffron party for not being able to control their MLAs. "About 20-25 Congress-JD(S) MLAs not having trust intheir party have been roaming around, away from the reach oftheir party leaders because of antagonism towards Congress,JD(S) and the Chief Minister- they are not in touch with them.

"Congress-JD(S) are trying to blame BJP for it, it isnot right. If you don't have the mettle to control your MLAs,why do you blame BJP? you don't have the moral right to tellthey (MLAs) have gone with BJP," he told reporters here. Ashoka also said there was also 'confusion' within thecoalition on contesting the polls together. His statement gains significance in the backdrop ofpolitical turmoil in the state last month following allegedattempts by BJP to topple the H D Kumaraswamy led coalitiongovernment by poaching few Congress MLAs, who reportedly wentincommunicado from the party leadership, and were camped at ahotel in Mumbai with plans to jump ship to the saffron party. The developments had led to resort politics, with theCongress herding its MLAs to a resort outside the city, andBJP too camping its MLAs at a hotel in Gurugram fearingcounter attempts by the ruling alliance to poach its members. Four Congress MLAs had remained absent from the allimportant Legislature Party meeting that was seen as a show ofstrength amid alleged poaching attempts by the BJP. All the four were served with notices, seeking anexplanation on why action should not be taken against them asper anti-defection law. On reports that some of these MLAs would resign ahead ofthe joint legislature session on February 6 and whether BJPwould utilise the opportunity, he said the legislators wouldso if they wanted, but it only pointed to the 'confusion' inthe ruling coalition. Asked whether the BJP would approach the Governor,requesting him to ask the government to prove its majority, hesaid "We are not political sanyasis, we have also come to dopolitics." Claiming that BJP's strength in the assembly hasincreased from 104 to 106 with the support of twoindependents, he said those without public support were nowrunning the government. "The person with 38 MLAs has become Chief Minister, thisis anti-democratic, so we are not sanyasis... when thesituation arises, we will utilise it hundred per cent." On whether BJP would support Sumalatha Ambareesh,wife oflate actor Ambareesh if she decided to contest as anindependent from Mandya, Ashoka said the party would take adecision as and when the situation arises He said the BJP would talk to her if required, as theparty too wanted to field right candidate in Mandya. "Let's see....in politics nothing is stagnant, changeskeep happening..whether this alliance will be there or not...whether this government will be there or not, no one knows.Even astrologers don't know, public also don't know, BJP alsodoesn't know," he added. BJP's strength in Mandya is negligible, and there is noclarity yet among the alliance partners over which party willcontest from the seat, which both consider their bastion. According to sources, both parties want to fieldSumalatha, banking on her late husband Ambareeshs popularityin the region and sympathy wave following his death recently. Sumalatha, herself a popular actress, has stated that shewill need time to decide about entering politics. "I had nointerest in politics earlier, but if I decide to enterpolitics it will only be from Mandya," she has declared. Ambareesh had represented Mandya both in Assembly andParliament from Congress. He had also served as Minister inboth state and central government.