President’s rule recommended in Karnataka

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur recommended the dissolution of the Assembly and imposition of President’s rule in the State late on Monday night after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy submitted his resignation.

Kumaraswamy’s decision to quit came after the Governor summoned him on Monday and advised him to resign as his JD (S) Government had been reduced to a minority in the wake of BJP pulling out of the coalition.

Earlier in the day, the Congress party also demanded the dismissal of the Kumaraswamy Government and submitted to the Governor individual letters from all its 66 MLAs ruling out extending support to any coalition in the State.

The Governor’s recommendation for President’s rule in Karnataka is based on his assessment that no viable alternative government could be formed in the State. The BJP, the largest party with 79 MLAs, and the Congress, with 66 MLAs, had made it clear that they wished to have no truck with the JD (S) that has 57 MLAs in the State Assembly.

Since no party or formation had staked claim before him to form an alternative Government, the Governor recommended for the dissolution of the Assembly and imposition of President’s rule.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur is understood to have sent his report with the twin recommendations within 45 minutes of Kumaraswamy’s resignation.

However, high drama preceded Kumaraswamy’s resignation with speculations of a remarriage between JD (S) and BJP taking political centre-stage.

After the Governor told Kumaraswamy to quit gracefully as he did not have the required numbers to prove his majority in the Assembly, a number of JD (S) legislators urged Kumaraswamy to hand over charge to BJP leader B S Yediyurappa and revive the coalition with a view to avoiding mid-term elections.

Despite severe opposition from JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy had reportedly agreed to hand over the baton to Yediyurappa in a bid to contain the damage caused to the party’s image on account of its failure to honour the solemn assurance given to the BJP under a power-sharing agreement.

Yediyurappa, who had barely launched a campaign against the JD (S) for reneging on its promise, rushed back to Bangalore in view of the change of heart in the JD (S), particularly Kumaraswamy.

Even as Yediyurappa was closeted with party leaders in Bangalore and trying to convince the reluctant BJP central leadership over the JD (S)’ offer, Deve Gowda got the wind of the developments in the JD (S) and is understood to have contacted the Governor and requested him to recommend President’s rule.