We expect a dozen more Cong MLAs to follow suit: BS Yeddyurappa

Bengaluru: While the resignation of two Congress MLAs on Monday has left the coalition government in the state stunned, the BJP is expectedly jubilant and  reportedly anticipates at least a dozen  Congress MLAs to quit before the start of monsoon session of the state legislature on July 12.

Hailing the resignations of  Vijayanagara MLA Anand Singh and Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarakiholi, sources close to state BJP chief  B.S.Yeddyurappa claimed they were expected and  at least a dozen more could follow. “Supporters of Mr. Jarkiholi will put in their papers soon,” said a senior BJP leader, who is close to Mr. Yeddyurappa.

Unlike their previous attempts, this time Mr. Yeddyurappa and team worked behind the scenes and in utmost secrecy to bring down the government, according to BJP sources.  Besides the state party chief and his close associates, no senior leader of the BJP too were aware of the strategy underfoot to bring down the H.D.Kumaraswamy government,they revealed.

But on the face of it, Mr Yeddyurappa seemed hardly concerned with the new developments in the Congress. When asked about the resignation of the two Congress MLAs, he merely said, “I don’t know much about the resignations of Anand Singh and Ramesh Jarkiholi. But it shows there is large scale uneasiness within the Congress and against its leadership. The BJP is not bothered about the resignations. Out first concern is to alert the government to carry out drought relief work.”

He added that if the government collapsed, the BJP would not be responsible. “But once it falls, the BJP will explore the Constitutional provisions to form the new government. There is no question of going for mid- term polls. We have 105 MLAs and every right to make a claim to forming the government if the coalition government collapses,” Mr Yeddyurappa added.

More Congress MLAs quitting?

Are more Congress MLAs waiting to quit in the wake of resignations submitted by former ministers Anand Singh and Ramesh Jarkiholi? Many legislators replied in the affirmative when asked about such a move, adding "If enough number of MLAs come forward, we will (quit)."

One Congress legislator, elected to the Assembly from a ST (R)  constituency in Hyderabad-Karnataka region, said he would follow suit if the number swells. This legislator, who was elected to the Assembly first on a BJP ticket in 2008 and subsequently won twice (2013 and 2018) as Congress candidate, told the media: "Mr Yeddyurappa personally requested me to support him to take over as the CM this time. I cannot say no to him as he helped me win the Assembly polls for the first time (2008), but I am waiting to see more number of MLAs come out of this coalition government and then I, too, will resign", he added.   According to the legislator, Hagaribommanahalli MLA Bhima Naik, Ballari (ST) MLA B Nagendra, Kampli MLA, J N Ganesh, and Kustagi MLA, Amaregowda Bayyapur are likely to quit their Assembly seats.