Rebel Karnataka MLAs’ major issues sorted out: Naik

PANAJI - Most major issues raised by the rebel Karnataka legislators have been resolved and a “positive outcome” is expected Saturday, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.

Speaking to reporters outside a five-star resort, 40 km from here, where the 14 dissenting MLAs from Karnataka are camping, BJP’s North Goa parliamentarian Shripad Naik said things were optimistic for the party.

The talks are positive. I am hopeful of a positive outcome by 12.30 p.m. Most major issues have been resolved. Some minor issues are being sorted out now, Naik said.

Naik, a former union minister of state, is one of the BJP emissaries along with former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who is talking to the dissenting group, which is parked at the Taj Exotica in Benaulim in south Goa for the last three days.

On Thursday, Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, who was camped in the resort, had expressed confidence that the B.S. Yeddyurappa government would not last the trust vote slated for Monday.

Just wait till then. You will realise. All the dissenting MLAs are together and they are united,” Kumaraswamy told reporters, before heading for Bangalore Thursday afternoon.

The JD-S leader had also refused to reply to questions on whether the JD-S would be supporting a Congress-led government in Karnataka in the near future.

Kumaraswamy also said the allegations made by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa about him indulging in horse-trading were false. “You will realise soon who is doing horse-trading,” Kumaraswamy said.

On Wednesday, 14 rebels and five Independents submitted a joint letter to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj withdrawing support to the state government, the BJP’s first in south India as well as Karnataka.