12 lawmakers had resigned; 11 of them -- 8 of the Congress and 3 of the JDS -- quit on Saturday.
New Delhi: Twelve Congress legislators today did not attend a crucial meeting of the party legislators to discuss strategies to save the government. Three others skipped the Congress Legislature Party meeting citing health reasons.
Karnataka's year-old Congress-Janata Dal coalition government hangs by a thread after yet another Independent lawmaker quit and pledged support to the BJP, taking the total number of resignations since last week to 15. All 15 rebel lawmakers are being shifted to Goa from the Mumbai hotel where they have been closeted, sources said. The move comes as youth congress workers started protests outside the hotel they are staying in. Meanwhile, Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar is headed for Mumbai in an attempt to meet the rebels. Last week, 12 lawmakers had resigned; 11 of them -- 8 of the Congress and three of the JDS -- quit on Saturday. Yesterday, independent lawmaker Nagesh stepped down and pledged support for the BJP. Soon after, he left for Mumbai. In the evening, Independent legislator and minister R Shankar resigned.
Here are the LIVE Updates of the Karnataka Political Crisis:
The BJP lawmakers in Karnataka will protest tomorrow over the political crisis in the state. A delegation of the leaders will meet Governor and Speaker and demand the resignation of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
Karnataka Congress Minister DK Shivakumar will go to Mumbai tomorrow to meet the rebel Karnataka legislators, news agency ANI reported.
Karnataka Assembly Speaker says he has told the Governor that no rebel MLA has met him so far.
HD Kumaraswamy reaches Prestige Golfshire Club on Nandi Hills Road in Devanahalli, where Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs are staying.
Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and BK Hariprasad to go to Bengaluru today.
Congress leader Roshan Baig has resigned from the post of MLA.
Congress leaders including Siddaramaiah, KC Venugopal and Parameshwar are on a protest at the Gandhi Statue outside the Vishan Soudha in Bengaluru.
Congress members in Karnataka hold a protest march
Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar says that the Office of the Speaker must "behave responsibly."
Twelve Congress legislators today did not attend a crucial meeting of the party legislators to discuss strategies to save the government. Three others skipped the Congress Legislature Party meeting citing health reasons.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on current political situation in Karnataka.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on current political situation in #Karnataka: It has become their (Congress) nature to allege anybody for their failure. Their MLAs have submitted their resignations to the Governor. We are monitoring the situation and will decide accordingly.
Karnataka Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao said: I am confident that the government will survive and government will stay. That I am confident about.
Now our strength is more than Congress-JD(S) MLAs. We are almost 107, they have fallen to 103. I think Governor can take the decision to call BJP to form the government, says Shobha Karandlaje.
Karnataka: Congress'sCongress Legislative Party meeting underway at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
Congress Legislative Party Meet
Siddaramaiah, Priyank Kharge and other Congress leaders arrive for Congress Legislative Party meeting in Begaluru.
Both Congress and Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular assured that the government is safe. "This is unconstitutional, it is the work of the BJP high command. The government will survive," Mr Kumaraswamy told NDTV. "There is no threat to the coalition government," said Congress's Siddaramaiah. Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the party is in touch with the rebels.
Karnataka: Siddaramaiah, Priyank Kharge and other Congress leaders arrive for Congress Legislative Party meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
Yesterday morning, independent lawmaker Nagesh stepped down and pledged support for the BJP. Soon after, he left for Mumbai. In the evening, Independent legislator and minister R Shankar resigned. Roshan Baig, who called Congress state in-charge KC Venugopal a "buffoon" and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao a "flop show", and was suspended from the party for it, on Monday said he was "hurt by the way Congress party treated me, I'll resign from my MLA post and join BJP."
All 15 rebel lawmakers are being shifted to Goa from the Mumbai hotel where they have been closeted, sources said. The shift comes as Youth Congress workers started protests outside their hotel and Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar headed for Mumbai. Last week, 12 lawmakers had resigned; 11 of them -- 8 of the Congress and three of the JDS -- quit on Saturday.
Congress's Roshan Baig, who was suspended last month for "anti-party activities" too says he will quit the Congress and join the BJP. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who cut short a private visit to the US and returned to handle the crisis, said all Congress and JDS minsters have resigned and a cabinet reshuffle will happen soon.
Karnataka's year-old Congress-Janata Dal coalition government is on life support after yet another Independent lawmaker quit and pledged support to the BJP, taking the total number of resignations since last week to 15. Thirteen of them belong to the ruling Congress and the Janata Dal Secular. Earlier on Monday, another Independent, made minister a month ago, resigned and came out in support of the BJP, giving it a narrow edge in the assembly.