By IANS
Bangalore : The political scenario in Karnataka worsened late Monday night with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruling out negotiations with coalition partner Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) on the transfer of power.
The BJP simply asked the JD-S to redeem its pledge, made 20 months back when the two parties entered into a coalition arrangement.
Senior BJP leader Yeshwant Sinha, in-charge of the party affairs in Karnataka, told reporters there was no scope for negotiating the power transfer with the JD-S.
As per the agreement between the two parties in February 2006, state Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is expected to resign by Tuesday (Oct 2) after his 20-month tenure ends and transfer power to the BJP with its leader B.S. Yediyurappa as the new chief minister for the remaining 20 months of the five-year assembly term.
“There is no scope for further negotiations on the three issues that were agreed upon by both the parties 20 months ago. The issues are: One, Kumaraswamy should resign by Oct 2 after completing 20 months of his term; two, he should transfer power to the BJP under Yediyurappa; and three, the number of ministers and portfolios would be decided mutually,” Sinha said.
Expressing confidence that Kumaraswamy would honour the pledge, Sinha said, “We expect the chief minister to hand over his resignation to the state governor (Rameshwar Thakur) by Tuesday evening to facilitate a smooth transfer of power.”
“We also expect Kumaraswamy to give a letter on behalf of the JDLP (Janata Dal Legislature Party) to the governor, stating that his party supports Yediyurappa as the chief minister. The letter will enable the governor to invite and appoint Yediyurappa as the new chief minister of the state,” Sinha pointed out.
Asked what would be the party’s next move if Kumaraswamy or the JD-S did not honour the power transfer pledge, Sinha said the people would be duly informed through the media on the steps that would be taken to defuse the political crisis.
“We expect Kumaraswamy and the JD-S to honour the pledge. It is up to them. The ball is in their court. They are aware of the agreement reached 20 months ago. Oct 3 has been coming for 20 months. It is not coming suddenly,” Sinha added.
Earlier, BJP state unit president D.V. Sadananda Gowda told reporters here the party was unanimous on the transfer of power.
“Please wait till Wednesday. We do not want to pre-empt our partner or precipitate things in a volatile political situation. The ball is in the JD-S court. If they (JD-S) decide to retain Kumaraswamy and ask him to continue for the next 20 months, we will have no choice but to quit,” Sadananda Gowda asserted.
Meanwhile, the JDLP, which met here after the state cabinet meeting late Monday, authorised party supremo and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda to decide on the transfer of power issue.
Party spokesman told reporters that the meeting was inconclusive and they would meet again Tuesday after Gowda conveyed his decision.