CM warns of snap poll, BSY hides MLAs away

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On a day of fast paced developments when Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda has reportedly said he will dissolve the Assembly after he presents the Budget on Wednesday, and his rival, former CM
B.S. Yeddyurappa has locked away all his 45 supporters at a plush resort, the Karnataka government, clearly in a crisis, is heading for a snap poll. It looks as if it will not survive beyond the next 48 hours.

Mr Sadananda Gowda told aides he plans to dissolve the Assembly after presenting the Budget on March 21, said sources.

The BSY camp has meanwhile upped the ante for Mr Gowda’s removal and has demanded that the meeting of the BJP legislature party be convened within 24 hours to reinstate Mr Yeddyurappa as CM.

Speaking to reporters at a private resort on the city’s outskirts, where around 45 pro-BSY legislators are huddled, party MLA B.P. Harish said they would not leave the resort till the legislature party meet is convened raising questions over the fate of the Budget.

Sunday’s dramatic developments began with BSY meeting his loyalists. Later addressing reporters, a resurgent BSY requested the media to wait for 48 hours, before the party takes a decision in his favour.

“When I resigned as CM, there were 70 legislators at my residence. Jagadish Shettar (RDPR minister) who was not there, is now here which proves that there are no factions. I hope the high command takes a suitable decision,’’ he said.

Ministers C.M. Udasi and Basavaraj Bommai said: “We have 55 legislators and another 15 will join us by tomorrow morning’’.

Sources quoted the CM telling BJP MLA M. Srinivas that he would prefer to dissolve the Assembly than succumb to the pressure tactics of BSY.