Kumaraswamy returns to Bengaluru; will hold meet with JD(S), Cong leaders

Bengaluru: Amidst the ongoing political turmoil that seems to have brought the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in the state in minority, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy arrived in Bengaluru on Sunday evening.

The Chief Minister who was in the USA arrived here in a special chartered flight.

Kumaraswamy had to cut short his visit due to the ongoing political turmoil triggered in the state in his absence.

He will soon hold a high-level meeting with JDS MLAs and Congress party leaders. The meeting will discuss among other things the current crisis the coalition government is facing.

Meanwhile, a meeting took place between senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda in the backdrop of the dramatic developments in the state.

Karnataka coalition government of Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress on Saturday slumped into crisis following the resignation of their 11 MLAs from the membership of the state Assembly.

However, JD(S) MLA H Vishwanath claimed that 14 MLAs have jointly tendered resignations to Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and requested him to accept them. The Speaker, however, has not yet accepted the resignations.

Siddaramaiah late on Saturday evening held a meeting with his party MLAs where he is believed to have discussed among other things the current political situation in the state. The meeting took place at his house.

The strength of the ruling coalition in Karnataka has come down to 105, which is eight short of the half-way mark of 113 for a majority.

Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Ramesh Jarkiholi resigned from the government earlier this week.

Those MLAs, who resigned from the Assembly, include BC Patil, H Vishwanath, Narayan Gowda, S Hebbar, Mahesh Kumatalli, Gopalayya, Ramesh Jarkiholi, and Pratap Gowda Patil. The dissident MLAs have reached Mumbai and are staying in Sofitel hotel.