Top Karnataka Congress leader called for an emergency meeting this morning.
A day after the resignation of over a dozen ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular lawmakers rocked the ruling coalition in Karnataka and plunged the state into a political crisis, both parties have gone into a huddle to discuss the next course of action to save the government. Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, back in India after a private visit to the US, launched straight into damage control measures, calling a meeting of his JDS lawmakers at a hotel tonight. Sources close to the chief minister said at least some of the rebel lawmakers of the ruling coalition, who resigned over the last week, bringing the government to the verge of collapse, may return to the fold. If the resignation of all 13 lawmakers is accepted, the government of the Congress and JDS which has a wafer-thin majority, could collapse. Former prime minister and JDS veteran HD Deve Gowda has been meeting JDS as well as Congress leaders. The Congress' state in charge, KC Venugopal, has come to Bengaluru and met state party leaders at a private hotel.
Here are the live updates of Karnataka crisis:
News agency ANI has reported that Karnataka ministers from the Congress party have been called for breakfast by Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka G Parameshwara at his residence in Bengaluru tomorrow.
Mallikarjun Kharge: Today also some MLAs went to Mumbai. They've gone under pressure and they've been told many things. Also, the BJP in the state has become active with help of Centre. Ruling government at Centre has taken interest to topple this alliance government. They're trying to get rid of this government.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has arrived at HAL Airport in Bengaluru, news agency ANI reported.
Congress is a sinking ship whose captain Rahul Gandhi is deserting it, senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan was quoted by Press Trust of India as saying. He claimed that MLAs quitting the party in Karnataka was a fallout of it.
The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister also attacked Congress Prime Ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, charging them of "weakening" the country.
"JDS has called for a meeting with their party leaders. We have also called our party leaders to sort out this issue. I'm confident things will cool down immediately. In interest of nation, both parties have to run the government smoothly. I'm confident MLAs will come back," says Congress leader DK Shivakumar after a series of meeting with top Congress leaders
Karnataka Rebel Lawmakers Flown To Mumbai, Congress Alleges BJP HandThe BJP is engineering defections to overthrow governments in states ruled by the opposition parties, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said a day after 11 lawmakers of the Congress-JDS coalition in Karnataka resigned. It is the BJP who took to Mumbai in a private jet and kept them in a five-star hotel on Saturday night, the party said.
What we know until now:
- 11 Congress-JDS leaders submitted their resignations to the Karnataka speaker's office yesterday claiming that there was friction in the party and urged the governor to accept their resignations.
- The leaders were then flown to a hotel in Mumbai where they spent the night.
- Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa today said he is "nowhere related" to the political crisis in the state
- Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge today alleged the BJP was behind the political crisis in the state and that there were attempts being made to create a divide within the party.
- Congress leader and Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar at the residence of JD(S) leader and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda in Bengaluru.
Karnataka Congress cell chief Mahendra Shinghe arrives at Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai.
State BJP chief denies party's role in Karnataka political crisis- Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa denied his party's role in the resignations of the 11 lawmakers - eight from the Congress and three from Janata Dal Secular.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge dismisses rumours- Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged the BJP would do everything to exploit the situation in Karnataka and create confusion.
- He alleged the BJP is engineering defections to overthrow governments in states not ruled by the BJP.
- He said that a clear picture will emerge on July 12 when the assembly session starts.
