More BJP legislators will resign: KJP

With Governor H R Bhardwaj stating that the Jagadish Shettar government continues to enjoy a majority, the KJP leaders on Saturday claimed that some more BJP MLAs loyal to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa would resign either on Monday or Tuesday. According to Nehru Olekar, Yeddyurappa’s close confidant and BJP MLA from Haveri, the KJP leaders have prepared the second list of about seven MLAs, including ministers M P Renukacharya and Murugesh Nirani, who will resign. The seven MLAs are over and above the 13 MLAs who could not submit their resignation letters on January 23, due to the non-availability of Speaker K G Bopaiah, he said. He said all 20 MLAs, including those in the second list, will meet the Speaker soon after he arrives at his office in the Vidhana Soudha and submit their resignation letters. “We hope the Speaker will be available in the office on February 28, as we have already intimated him through an email letter, our plan to submit the resignation letters,” he said. Ramanna Lamani, Srishailappa Bidarur, C C Patil, S V Ramachandra and Sunil Valyapure are ready to resign, according to Olekar. However, it is not clear whether all 20 of them will actually turn up at the Speaker’s office to submit the resignation letters. It is learnt that many of them, especially Ministers Nirani, Renukacharya and Revu Naik Belamagi, are still in two minds. They are not ready to be part of any initiative aimed at dislodging the Shettar government. Yeddyurappa, meanwhile, held a meeting with his party leaders at his Dollars’ colony residence to finalise the strategy to reduce the numerical strength of the government. The Jagadish Shettar government will be on a shaky wicket if the Speaker accepts the resignations of about 20 BJP MLAs. In the 223-member Assembly, the BJP’s strength is 119 (including an independent MLA who is in the Cabinet and a nominated MLA) and the combined Opposition has 103 (Congress 71, JD-S 26, Independents 5, BSR Congress 1). Two seats are currently vacant. If 20 of its MLAs resign, the ruling party’s strength will be reduced to 99. The Speaker can vote in the case of a tie. -Deccan Herald