Karnataka: Cong, BJP in heated battle after 2 MLAs withdraw support from Kumaraswamy govt

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday played down media speculations in the political circles that his government was facing any threat amid the ongoing poaching battle being fought between the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition and the BJP.

HD Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday played down media speculations in the political circles that his government was facing any threat amid the ongoing poaching battle being fought between the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition and the BJP. Responding to a question on the Congress MLAs who are staying in a Mumbai hotel, the Karnataka CM said that he was in touch with everybody. "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. The political battle between the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition and BJP in Karnataka has got more intense after two independent MLAs withdrew their support from the HD Kumaraswamy government amid the ongoing poaching charges levied by both parties at each other. While the BJP leaders are claiming that the Congress-JD(S) government will topple soon, both Kumaraswamy and the Congress have rejected any such claims, saying that the government is under no threat following the withdrawal of support by the independent MLAs. On Tuesday, two independent MLAs- H Nagesh and R Shankar- withdrew their support to the Kumaraswamy government and wrote letters to the state governor in this regard. Meanwhile, four Congress MLAs are staying in a Mumbai hotel amid political speculations that they might switch sides. Amid the fast changing political scenario, Congress parry’s Karnataka in-charge Venugopal reached Bengaluru from New Delhi and held talks with Chief Minister Kumaraswamy as well as former CM Siddaramaiah. Though the Congress leaders are claiming that there is no danger to the Kumaraswamy govt in the state, the BJP leaders feel that the govt wont have the numbers in the State Assembly to run the government. Meanwhile over 100 MLAs of BJP are staying at a resort in Gurgaon, Haryana. In Karnataka Assembly, the total number of MLAs is 224. The Congress has 80 legislators while the JD(S) has 37 MLAs. With the support of the BSP MLA, the ruling alliance’s number reaches 118. The BJP has the support of 106 MLAs at present. For a BJP government in the state, at least 13 MLAs need to resign from the House as it will reduce the strength of the House to 211. With 106 MLAs, the BJP will then be in a position to form the next government in the state. Meanwhile over 100 MLAs of BJP are staying at a resort in Haryana. In Karnataka Assembly, the total number of MLAs is 224. The Congress has 80 legislators while the JD(S) has 37 MLAs. With the support of the BSP MLA, the ruling alliance’s number reaches 118. The BJP has the support of 106 MLAs at present. For a BJP government in the state, at least 13 MLAs need to resign from the House as it will reduce the strength of the House to 211. With 106 MLAs, the BJP will then be in a position to form the next government in the state.