Karnataka BJP may remove minister

The BJP has dispatched senior leader Yashwant Sinha to Bangalore to hold parleys with HD Deve Gowda and his son Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to resolve the deadlock, reports Hemendra Singh Bartwal.

Not optimistic about a smooth transfer of power from ally JD-S in Karnataka, the BJP on Friday dispatched senior leader Yashwant Sinha to Bangalore to hold parleys with HD Deve Gowda and his son Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to resolve the deadlock.

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According to party sources, the BJP leadership is prepared to remove Tourism Minister Sriramulu to appease JD-S supremo Deve Gowda, who called off transfer of power talks, taking offence at the former's move to file a attempt to murder complaint against Kumaraswamy. But party leaders are not sure if that will be enough to persuade JD-S leaders to hand over power to them.

“I know what decision I should take on that day (October 3),” Kumaraswamy has said.

Deve Gowda said on Thursday that he would not resume talks with BJP leaders till they created a “congenial atmosphere”, hinting that power may not be transferred by October 3, as agreed upon.

A section of the BJP feels Deve Gowda may be trying to drive a hard bargain to get prized portfolios for his party in the new government. Others feel he and his son have no intention of giving up power and are merely buying time while they attempt getting outside support from the Congress. The Congress central leadership, however, does not appear to be interested in any such proposal.

Besides, a meeting of the BJP ministers in the government has been called on October 1. According to party sources, the ministers have planned to resign en masse if JD-S goes back on its promise to hand over power on October 3. Party sources said if Sinha failed, MVenkaiah Naidu would be sent to make a final attempt at a patch-up.