More Karnataka Resignations As Coalition Scrambles For Numbers | Read

Karnataka's year-old Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government is perilously close to losing power with 14 resignations, if accepted today, leaving it in a minority. The latest one to resign is Roshan Baig, who was suspended by the Congress last month for "anti-party" activities. Speaker Ramesh Kumar, who will examine the resignation letters today, will play a big role in the coalition's future. All coalition ministers quit yesterday to make room for the dissident lawmakers as the Congress and JDS went all out to try and bring them back. The resignation of two independent lawmakers who were made ministers just last month has given the BJP an upper hand in the game of numbers. The Congress said it will seek the disqualification of the lawmakers who have resigned. Twelve Congress legislators today did not attend a crucial meeting of the party legislators to discuss strategies to save the government. Three among them skipped the Congress Legislature Party meeting citing health reasons.