JD (S) Minister to quit cabinet if power is handed over to BJP

Karnataka’s Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari has threatened to quit the Cabinet if power is transferred to the BJP in October this year.

Ansari, who had put the BJP into a state of turmoil a few days ago by claiming that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will continue in his post even after October, said he would prefer to remain out of the Cabinet if BJP assumes the reins of power in the State.

According to a power-sharing agreement between JD (S) and BJP before the coalition assumed power in February 2006, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is scheduled to hand over the baton to the BJP in October this year at the end of his 20 month tenure. But, Ansari, who represents the JD (S), had caused anxiety among the BJP leaders by claiming that power will not be handed over to the coalition partner.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Ansari said he was representing the minorities in the coalition cabinet. “If BJP takes over the reins, I will not prefer to be in the Cabinet”, he said.

However, Ansari said he was a soldier of the JD (S) and would continue to work for the party.