Karnataka CM to go out in a blaze of glory?
If the coalition loses the number game, then he would very much to make his exit after making an emotional speech, said sources.
Bengaluru: With the coalition government unsure of mustering the numbers with the rebel MLAs remaining defiant, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is likely to make a graceful exit if he is not confident of winning the trust vote which he has sought in the state Assembly.
Not that Mr Kumaraswamy is someone who would like to go down without a fight but sources said he does not want his family members, the coalition partner Congress or the opposition BJP to decide when he should go if it is inevitable.
His strategy is simple - first try to save the government by convincing the dissidents to withdraw their resignations. If the coalition loses the number game, then he may make his exit after making an emotional speech. This would help him strike a chord with voters of the Vokkaliga community which forms the backbone of JD(S) support in the Old Mysuru region, said sources.
Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar is yet to decide the day on which the trust vote will be taken up and may take a decision on Monday when the legislature reconvenes after a two-day break.
Not that Mr Kumaraswamy is someone who would like to go out without a fight but sources said he does not want his family members, the coalition partner Congress or the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party to decide when he should go if it is inevitable, sources close to the Chief Minister said.
His strategy is pretty simple – try to save the government by convincing the dissidents to withdraw their resignations. If the coalition loses the number game, then he would very much to make his exit after making an emotional speech, said sources.
After his return from the US, Mr Kumaraswamy has had his share of worries with even his father and JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda saying the party would not hesitate to support Mr Siddaramaiah for Chief Minister to save the coalition-something which did not go down well with his son. He also felt that he was sidelined by some Congress leaders in New Delhi.
So, the Chief Minister, in an attempt to save his chair, established contact with former minister Ramalinga Reddy and held three rounds of talks with him.
Later, he reportedly arranged a meeting between his close associate and minister Sa Ra Mahesh and BJP leaders Muralidhar Rao and K.S. Eshwarappa though both sides claimed the meeting was coincidental.
This happened at a time when Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and K.C Venugopal were in the same premises of KK Guesthouse in the city. The CM, thus succeeded in send