Karnataka crisis: Fresh talks with dissidents MLAs in Goa

PANAJI - Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders will on Friday hold fresh talks with dissident Karnataka MLAs to resolve the issue within the state government.

“I will be meeting with them (dissidents). There are some issues which would be discussed and settled,” said Goa’s senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar.

Last night the Taj Exotica Resort at Benaulim turned into a fortress after around 15 MLAs, including nine from BJP, checked in at the resort.

Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy also arrived at the resort where Karnataka rebels MLAs were camping.

Kumaraswamy’s appearance created a near-volatile situation after angry BJP workers gheraoed his car and roughed up his aide.

BJP claimed that Karnataka’s Tourism minister Janardhan Reddy, who had come to hold talks with rebels MLAs, was not allowed to meet them by Congress leaders including Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik.

“Our MLAs are kept under house arrest. This is very bad. The whole country is watching the development,” said Reddy.

Karnataka assembly plunged into crisis after 14 BJP and five Independent MLAs withdrew support to it prompting Governor H R Bharadwaj to ask the Chief Minister to seek a trust vote by October 12.

Despite the crisis, Yeddyurappa seemed confident and said he’ll prove the majority by October 11, a day ahead of the Governor’s deadline of October 12.

“I talked to the Governor… the house will meet on October 11… the MLAs who have gone out of town will be back soon. I am confident of proving majority, ” said Yeddyurappa.

In the 224-member Assembly, BJP and independents together had the strength of 123 members. With Wednesday’s developments it has been reduced to 104 members. The BJP now requires the support of 113 members to prove its majority.

The BJP earlier had 117 MLAs including the Speaker, followed by Congress 73, JDS 28 and independents six. (ANI)