Click to play videoNew Delhi: The curtain came down on Karnataka’s 20-month ruling partnership on Saturday, following Janata Dal(S) chief HD Deve Gowda’s refusal to his BJP counterpart Rajnath Singh on power transfer in the state.
The BJP ministers had resigned earlier this week, with Chief Minster H D Kumaraswamy refusing to vacate the CM's chair for Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa.
According to the power-sharing agreement 20 months ago, Yediyurappa was supposed to take over as the chief minister on October 3.
On Sunday, a day after the coalition in Karnataka fell through, Yediyurappa submitted a letter to Governor Rameshwar Thakur formally severing ties with the JD(S). In the letter the BJP has asked Thakur to direct the government to seek a confidence vote within three days.
“We have withdrawn the support from the government from this moment. Kumaraswamy has lost majority and we have urged the governor to dismiss the government immediately,” Yediyurappa said.
However, rejecting BJP's allegations of JD(S) betraying it on power transfer, Kumaraswamy said, "I am not guilty. I am not responsible for it.”
With no party having a majority, the Congress and JD(S) have to strike an alliance to form a government. But the Congress is wary of the JD(S), as they had pulled the plug on the Dharam Singh government in 2006.
Kumaraswamy spoke to CNN-IBN correspondent Deepa Balakrishnan in Bangalore about his party's future course of action. Following are excerpts from the interview.
CNN-IBN: What was the conclusion regarding the political crisis in the state at the end of the JD(S)meeting today?
HD Kumaraswamy: In today's meeting we decided to unitedly work for the development of the party.
CNN-IBN: What about the coalition government's future? Will you be going with the Congress or would you rather prefer mid-term polls?
HD Kumaraswamy: Already our National President in Delhi on Saturday clarified that we will prefer elections.
CNN-IBN: Does it mean that you will be facing a trust vote on October 18?
HD Kumaraswamy: On Sunday we called for an Assembly session that I will seek vote of confidence.
CNN-IBN: Will you be meeting the Governor in this regard?
Kumaraswamy: I am expecting the Governor to call me at any moment. And then I will go and explain to him the latest developments.
CNN-IBN: You are confident of facing the trust vote?
Kumaraswamy: Yes, definitely.
CNN-IBN: Supposing, you don't win the trust vote would you rather continue as caretaker CM or would you rather go for President's rule?
Kumaraswamy: That is not in my hand. The Governor and the President can take that decision.
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