Karnataka: BJP develops cold feet on no trust vote

BELAGAVI: A day after they contemplated a no-confidence motion against the Congress government for allegedly shielding the corrupt in the Lokayukta, leaders of BJP evidently developed cold feet and sought time to join hands with their JD(S) counterparts to mount a joint assault on the state government in the Legislative Assembly.

Though these leaders did not state in as many words that they were backing out, they sought time to convey their decision to JD(S).  A BJP leader said a decision in this regard would be taken on Sunday or Monday only after a discussion with two former Justice Santosh Hegde and Justice Venkatachala and former Advocate General Mr B V Acharya.

Meanwhile, state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy said that BJP members have not ruled out joining him. “I spoke to Mr Suresh Kumar and Mr K G Bopaiah along with Mr Jagadish Shettar. This is the only way we can expose the government and speak against angles of corruption in Lokayukta, including the question why the government was silent over the issue for last one and a half years. They have promised to come back to me on Sunday. Our party is ready to even share information with BJP leaders, so that they can discuss the issues,” he added.

Sources in JD(S) said the party was working on ‘Plan-B’ if BJP leaders do not join hands. “We will move a different motion altogether. If it is not a no-confidence motion, the government may not allow us to speak on many sensitive issues, raising objections under ‘point of order’. We are working out other motions, where we will not be obstructed while raising several issues,” sources added.