Karnataka: Amid reports of poaching of its MLAs by the BJP, the Congress on Wednesday played down media speculations that his government was facing any threat due to the political battle being fought between the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition and the BJP. The part said that there was no threat to the coalition government in Karnataka and that the BJP's attempts to destabilize a "stable coalition" will not succeed.

Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that he has spoken to senior leaders of the party as well as Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and they have assured him that there was no threat to the ruling coalition.

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misleading the MLAs and the public, Kharge said it was approaching MLAs saying "we (BJP) have already got your 11 MLAs, you join us and we will have 12".

Earlier today, two Independent MLAs, H Nagesh and R Shankar have announced to withdraw their support from Karnataka government on Tuesday. These MLAs had extended their support to the Congress-JDS alliance when it was formed in the month of May 2018. The two Independent MLAs Shankar from Ranebennur and Nagesh from Mulbagal released letters addressed to the governor stating their withdrawal today.

On Tuesday, Kumaraswamy had also said there was no threat to his government. "MLAs(Congress MLAs in Mumbai hotel) are unreachable to the media, not to me, I am in touch with everybody and I am speaking to everybody, they will come back. Our coalition is going on smoothly. I was relaxed and I am relaxed. Don't worry, be happy," Kumaraswamy was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

In the 225-member Legislative Assembly, including one nominated Speaker, the Congress has 80 legislators, JD-S 37, and the BJP 104, while one Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA continues to support the coalition after one Independent Nagesh and the KPJP legislator Shankar withdrew their support.

(agency inputs)