Amid the looming threat of more resignations by ruling BJP ministers and legislators loyal to B.S. Yeddyurappa, Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday said his government is stable and that he did not expect further resignations.
“I am in touch with all BJP legislators and they are not going to tender resignations from assembly membership,” he told reporters here, even as KJP leader Yeddyurappa, whose political manoeuvring set off a crisis for the BJP government dared Shettar to present his budget “if he has majority”.
Speaking to reporters at Indi in Bijapur district, Mr Yeddyurappa said, “Wait for resignations of some more, ministers and MLAs. I am not pressurising anyone to quit”.
However, Mr Shettar, whose government now survives on a wafer thin majority in the wake of 12 MLAs resigning on Tuesday, alleged that the legislators had acted under pressure.
“The government is stable and I will present the budget,” (on February 8), Mr Shettar said.
He rejected the charge that Speaker K.G. Bopaiah had indulged in politics by delaying accepting MLAs resignations.
Deputy chief minister and state unit BJP president K.S. Eswarappa said the government is ready to face a no-confidence motion, if Congress moved it. Mr Eswarappa held talks with top leaders, including Shettar, Anantkumar and RSS leader Santosh on the crisis and ways to overcome it ahead of the budget session starting February 4.
On Tuesday, 13 MLAs had met the Speaker in his office at the state secretariat and tendered their resignations from the Assembly membership in person, several hours after which they were accepted. The resignation of Vittala Katakadonda was not accepted for “technical reasons”.
With the acceptance of resignation of 12 MLAs, BJP has a strength of 105, Congress 71, JDS 26, Independents seven (one of whom is supporting the government and is in the Ministry) and the Speaker.