Karnataka crisis: Overnight drama in Goa

It looks as if the crisis in the Karnataka BJP unit, which threatened the survival of the government, may just be over after the yesterday's midnight drama in Goa. With reported return of three of the 14-rebel party legislators to the BJP fold, the party's strength, which was reduced to 103 in the 225-member Assembly has now effectively increased to 106, and is likely to touch 113 by the weekend. This number will give the party government a simple majority. Battleground of Karnataka yesterday moved to Goa where the rebel MLAs shifted at a five star hotel there. It took a dramatic twist overnight when arch rivals, the JDS president HD Kumaraswamy and Yeddyurappa's man Janardhan Reddy, came face to face. Both were trying to meet the rebel MLAs. Senior Goa BJP leader Manohar Parrikar also jumped into the fray midnight.