Click to play videoBangalore: The coalition government in Karnataka is on the verge of collapse with both the JD(S) and the BJP taking tough stands on the issue of transfer of power.
Addressing a Gandhi Jayanti function on Tuesday, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy rejected BJP's deadline for the transfer of power as per an agreement that the two party had reached 20 months back. "There can't be a deadline for power transfer in the state," he said.
The BJP, too, has refused to hold any further negotiation on the issue.
"October 3 is the deadline for power transfer. We will not go back on that. October 5 (the date JD(S) says it will take a final decision at its political affairs committee meeting) does not come into the picture at all," party's state unit president DV Sadananda Gowda said in Bangalore.
Asked about BJP's stand if Kumaraswamy does not resign on Tuesday, he said: "Let's see tomorrow." The BJP has convened a meeting of its legislature party later on Tuesday to take stock of the situation. Party MPs and office bearers have been invited for this interaction.
At a meeting on Monday, BJP ministers decided to stand firm on the power-transfer issue and spoke against allowing Kumaraswamy to continue as Chief Minister beyond October 3.
After a strong showing by the JD(S) in the civic polls, party chief Deve Gowda had stated that he wanted his son to continue as CM.
Kumaraswamy says the BJP should have 'patience' and give time to his party to decide the issue. "Why are they in such a hurry?" he asked. He said he did not want to take any decision on the issue in 'haste'. "It is better that these decisions are not taken in a haste. Such a step will not be in the interest of both the parties," Kumaraswamy said.
He took a swipe at the BJP leaders for talking through 'media' and cautioned them that this kind of behaviour would only worsen the situation. Calling for a halt to the 'dialogue through media', Kumaraswamy exhorted the saffron party leaders to hold talks with his party leaders to resolve the crisis.
"I have seen this in newspapers and electronic media only that senior leaders of the BJP have given deadlines. They have also said that there can be no future discussion and negotiation. I have seen this in electronic media only. As far as I am concerned, nobody has spoken to me about the transfer of power," Kumaraswamy said.
"Yashwant Sinha has said that I should resign by this evening and give a letter of support to the governor. I have read this only in the media. No one told me directly," he said.
JD-S state unit President Merajuddin Patel rejected the saffron party's deadline and said there is no question of Kumaraswamy's resignation. "Kumaraswamy will not resign today," he said.
As per the power-sharing pact, JD-S was supposed to transfer power to BJP on October 3.
The JD-S even disowned the power-sharing agreement, saying it was reached between Kumaraswamy and the BJP, and JD(S) has nothing to do with it. "We have nothing to do with the power-sharing agreement reached between Kumaraswamy and the BJP 20 months ago," Patel said, indicating that the JD(S) will not honour the pact.
JD-S supremo HD Deve Gowda said on Tuesday morning that the party's political affairs committee scheduled to meet in Delhi on October 5 will take a final decision on power transfer.
The MLAs of the BJP and JD(S) are holding separate meetings later on Tuesday before their parties take a final decision on the issue. The BJP had earlier set a deadline for 1800 hours (IST) on Tuesday for Kumaraswamy to step down as Chief Minister in favour of the BJP.
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