Bengaluru: Government formation exercise in Karnataka was yet to take off on Wednesday as the state BJP looked to the central leadership for its go-ahead to stake claim to provide an alternative after the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) coalition ministry in a confidence vote.
A day after the exit of the HD Kumaraswamy ministry, the BJP showed no hurry to stake claim for forming the next government, as the number game may not yet be finally over with both the resignations of rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs and the pleas for their disqualification still pending with Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar.
The 14-month old Congress-JD(S) government collapsed on Tuesday as it lost the confidence motion moved by Kumaraswamy in the assembly after intense jockeying for power played out for three weeks with several political twists and turns and legal battle following the resignation of 15 rebel MLAs.
In the trial of strength, Kumaraswamy had garnered 99 votes against the 105 by the BJP, with the ruling coalition swept out of power by a big chunk of its lawmakers who refused to back out and skipped voting on confidence motion.
Chief minister in waiting Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa said he was awaiting instructions from his party central leadership on staking claim to form an alternative government.
"I'm awaiting instructions from Delhi. I can call legislature party meeting any time and go to Raj Bhavan (to stake claim). I'm waiting for it," he told reporters after meeting RSS leaders at its state headquarters "Keshava Krupa" here.
Neither the BJP Parliamentary Board meet in New Delhi to give the go ahead to Yeddyurappa on government formation nor the Legislature Party meeting here that was expected by the party state leaders happened on Wednesday.
Senior BJP legislator J C Madhuswamy said, "party national president Amit Shah has to instruct us to call a legislature party meeting in the presence of an observer to elect the leader."
He said, "things have to go democratically as ours is a national party, so we are waiting for instructions from them, after that, appointment with the Governor will be sought."
According to BJP sources, the party's leadership was waiting for the Speaker's decision on the resignations and disqualification petitions against rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs, before staking claim to form an alternative government.
"No indication yet from the party leadership.. speculations only in the media. Party leadership may be waiting for the speaker to decide on resignations of rebel MLAs to avoid any embarrassment in the future," a senior BJP leader wishing not to be quoted, told PTI.
With their resignations still to be accepted, the 15 rebel MLAs of the Congress and the JD(S) have sought four weeks' time to appear before the Speaker in connection with the plea for their disqualification from the state assembly.
Speaking to reporters, Ramesh Kumar said, proceedings were on regarding disqualification petition, adding, "I go by law. Nothing but Constitution and law."
"Lawyers had come and have said what they have to say on behalf of their clients (MLAs), I have heard them. I will go through, according to law I will decide," he said.
Asked if he has he given any fresh time line for the MLAs to appear, he said, "every thing was over. They are also satisfied, I'm also satisfiednext further action that's all."
The Congress and the JD(S) have sought disqualification under the anti-defection law of the rebel lawmakers who, however, were undeterred by it and skipped the assembly proceedings during the crucial confidence vote on Tuesday.
The anti-defection law doesn't specify a time-period for the Speaker to decide on disqualification plea.
A disqualified member loses seat and the punitive action forestalls prospects of becoming a minister in the newly sworn in government but he or she can get re-elected to the House.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi in its order on Wednesday last gave the Assembly Speaker the freedom to decide on the resignation of the 15 MLAs within such time-frame as considered appropriate by him.
A day after the collapse of its government, uncertainty loomed large over the future of the Congress-JD(S) alliance as outgoing chief minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda's son H D Kumaraswamy remained non-committal on the the issue, saying both parties have not yet discussed it.
Responding to a question on continuing alliance with the Congress, he told reporters here: "Let us see...I don't know. I don't know about the stand of Congress leaders for the future. We have not discussed anything yet."
Kumaraswamy, who is also the JD(S) Legislature Party leader, said Congress leaders had not discussed with them on the issue.
"...they are very free, and we are also very free. If the coalition works out and if they want we will join hands with them. Otherwise we will work ourselves and strengthen our party," he said.
In response to a question whether he has regrets about forming the coalition, Kumaraswamy said, "whatever issues we havetaken, there is no regret."
Speaking to media after meeting party legislators, he said the MLAs wanted the party to be strengthened and they have also taken responsibility to work towards it.
Congress and JD(S), considered arch rivals, especially in Mysuru region, had joined hands to form the coalition government after the May 2018 assembly polls threw up a hung verdict.
Both parties faced a rout in the recent Lok Sabha polls, winning just one seat each out of total 28 seats in the state, as grassroot level workers of both parties were not happy with the alliance.
BJP swept the polls winning 25 seats and an Independent backed by it one.
Congress leaders too held discussions on Wednesday. KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, CLP leader Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara among other senior leaders were present.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed about the rebel MLAs and how to organise the party in the future, Rao told reporters.
"There is no question of taking back the rebels, they have betrayed us by helping BJP," he said.
On the continuation of alliance, he said, it was decided by the high command and "we will have to follow what high command says on it."
