The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping that over 16 dissident Congress and JD(S) MLAs, who are reportedly in touch with them, will precipitate a crisis paving the way for an alternate BJP government.
Sources in the BJP claimed that four teams of MLAs from the ruling combine were in touch with them — five MLAs led by Ramesh Jarkiholi; three MLAs led by an MLA in Bengaluru rural district; four MLAs led by an MLA from Chickballapur district (this team includes an independent MLA and two MLAs from JD-S), and four MLAs from Ballari and Raichur districts – all from Congress. The last team of MLAs are in touch with BJP strongman from the region B. Sriramulu. A strategist close to BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa said: “The die had been cast and the ball was now in the court of the dissidents.”
However, all the MLAs leading these dissident groups are also holding hectic parleys with the Congress leadership and recently met former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, fiercely lobbying for Cabinet berths for themselves and their followers.
Would they resign, pull down the government, and join the BJP? BJP strategists hope so. But a crisis is unlikely to be precipitated before the government decides on Cabinet expansion, multiple sources said. Scheduled to be held by now, there are six vacant Cabinet berths for Congress and one for JD(S), while there are over 15 strong aspirants.
The Enforcement Directorate registering a case against Congress strongman D.K. Shivakumar, who played a key role in foiling BJP’s earlier efforts to cobble together a majority when Mr. Yeddyurappa was the Chief Minister for two days, would also help them, leaders hope. “Mr. Shivakumar is likely to be busy with his own legal battles for now,” a strategist said.
