BJP formally ends support to Kumaraswamy

A BJP delegation led by Yediyurappa submits a letter to the Governor, withdrawing support to the government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday formally withdrew support to Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who said he will request the governor to let him prove his majority in the assembly.

HT Image

A BJP delegation led by BS Yediyurappa, who was deputy chief minister, met Governor Rameshwar Thakur and submitted a letter withdrawing support to the 20-month-old ministry.

The meeting with the governor was preceded by a huge rally of BJP workers and supporters in the city.

Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) announced after a meeting with his party leaders that he would meet the governor soon and seek his permission to prove his majority.

Kumaraswamy, who has the support of 51 JD-S legislators in the 225-member assembly, claimed that he would not seek the support of Congress, which has 65 members.

The BJP, which has 79 members, withdrew support to Kumaraswamy after he backed out of a February 2006 agreement to hand over chief minister's post to the party at the end of a 20-month-term.

Congress general secretary Prithviraj Chavan is expected in Bangalore on Sunday night for talks with state leaders on the strategy to be followed.