Karna turmoil; Yeddyurappa likely to meet BJP MLAs in Gurugram

The power play between the ruling Congress-JDS coalition and BJP in Karnataka continued Wednesday, as the two sides escalated their war of words and went into an overdrive to keep their flock together.

The Congress and JDS continued to present a picture of confidence about the brewing crisis blowing over, with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy saying things were "under control" and there was no reason for worry.

As the ruling partners unleashed a scathing attack on the BJP for allegedly trying to topple the government, the saffron party MLAs continued to be ensconced at a resort in Gurugram, fearing poaching attempts.

According to Congress sources, a few ministers from the party have even offered to step down in the larger interest and to keep the coalition intact. The party leadership is also looking into the option, they added.

It was not known how long the 104 BJP MLAs, who went to New Delhi to attend the party's national council meeting but extended their stay, would remain cooped up in the resort.

Meanwhile, sources said BJP's Karnataka unit chief B S Yeddyurappa is likely to hold a meeting with the party MLAs who are camping at the resort and discuss the prevailing situation in the state.

They said the BJP legislators will stay put in Gurugram till the party top leaders give the green signal to return to Karnataka.

Around 20 Youth Congress workers led by party's Haryana Pradesh Congress General Secretary Pradeep Singh raised slogans against the NDA government outside the resort.

The protesters alleged that the BJP was "disrespecting the Constitution and murdering democracy" in the country.

Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said in Bengaluru that it was not necessary for him to carry out "any operation" (poaching) and that he had sufficient numbers with him.

"Everything is under control..don't worry," Kumaraswamy said, trying to present a picture of being relaxed.

Kumaraswamy, whose government received a jolt on Tuesday when two Independent MLAs withdrew support to it, was asked if the ruling alliance would also launch a counter-strike on the BJP to lure its lawmakers.

The chief minister wanted BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa to explain if his party MLAs have been shifted to Gurugram to celebrate Sankranthi or for any other reason.

Kumaraswamy said his party MLAs were not being shifted to any resort, as being speculated in the media.

"So I request media not to fool itself and the people of the state."
On five Congress MLAs, who are in Mumbai allegedly under BJP's control, Kumaraswamy said, "I have been saying for the past three days that they are in touch with me, I'm in the know of all the developments."
Claiming that seven to eight BJP MLAs were in touch with them, he said "Let them (BJP) leave MLAs, seven to eight of them are ready to come to us..that's the reason they are holding up MLAs."
Meanwhile, state Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao told PTI: "The entire confusion has been created by the BJP. Was that really required? They did it brazenly throwing morality and ethics to the wind.It's shameful and disgusting."