Karnataka JD-S rebel legislator quits avoiding expulsion

BANGALORE - Opposition Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rebel legislator M.C. Ashwath, who abstained from the trust vote Thursday, resigned from the party Friday to avoid facing disqualification for defying its whip.

“Ashwath has quit the party as he didn’t want to be disqualified for defying the whip by staying away from the state legislative assembly Thursday when the crucial trust vote was taken,” a party spokesman told IANS here.

With Ashwath’s resignation, the strength of the JD-S lawmakers in the 209-member assembly is reduced to 27 from 28.

The rebel, who represented the Channapatna constituency in the old Mysore region, about 60 km from here, submitted the resignation letter to Speaker K.G. Bopaiah.

“Ashwath decided to side with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the trust vote despite protestations by our party leaders and hence abstained from the one-day special session,” the spokesman said.

After winning the confidence motion by 106 to 100, a wary BJP is scouting for more such legislators in the opposition Congress and JD-S to consolidate its hold on the government and complete its full term.

“We learn that the BJP leaders are luring Ashwath to join their saffron party and offered a ministerial berth after getting re-elected on its party ticket,” the spokesman said and recalled how the same party weaned away seven-eight opposition legislators last year under its ‘operation lotus’ strategy.

Though ‘operation lotus’ helped the BJP to stabilise its first government in the state after its historic victory in the 2008 assembly elections, it wilted and triggered the recent revolt against it.

The BJP’s plan is to hook a few more opposition legislators and prevent renewed attempts to destabilise the 29-month-old B.S. Yeddyurappa ministry, as many of the dissidents who revolted were defectors from the Congress and the JD-S.

Though Aswath told reporters that he was resigning on personal grounds, BJP leaders claimed they had won him over.

The ruling party has also begun negotiating with a few vulnerable Congress lawmakers. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah alleged that Yeddyurappa was indulging in horse-trading to retain power.

“The BJP is inducing many of our legislators but I don’t think they will go,” Siddaramaiah said.

Meanwhile, the JD-S, which actively took part in the coup attempt by 11 rebel BJP legislators and five independents, accused Chief Minister Yeddyurappa of using money and muscle power to win the confidence vote.