BJP claims support of three independents, to stake claim

Ahead of formally staking claim to form the next Government in Karnataka, BJP has claimed to enjoy the support of three independent MLAs to reach a simple majority of 113 members in the 224-member assembly.

Two out of the three independent MLAs attended the BJP Legislature Party meeting held in Bangalore to formally elect B S Yeddyurappa as the leader of the BJP’s Legislature Party.

BJP rebel Shivaraj Thangadai, who was elected as independent from Kanakagiri constituency, and JD (S) rebel Goolihatti Shekar, who had been elected from Hosadurga, were honoured with garlands by the senior BJP leaders ahead of its Legislature Party meeting, which had been delayed apparently awaiting the arrival of the independent MLAs.

The BJP leaders claimed that they Congress rebel from Hiriyur constituency Sudhakar had also agreed to extend support to the BJP Government.

Apart from its 110 MLAs and the independents, the BJP Legislature Party meeting was attended by senior party leaders including Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananthkumar.

The letters of support submitted by the independents are expected to be produced before Governor Rameshwar Thakur when the BJP formally stakes claim to form a Government under the leadership of B S Yeddyurappa.

The support of three independent legislators was crucial for the BJP, which had won 110 seats in the assembly polls, to secure a simple majority of 113 seats in the 224-member House.

Speaking to reporters after the BJP legislature party meeting, Yeddyurappa said the BJP Legislature Party had unanimously elected him as its leader and he would soon call on the Governor and stake claim to form the next Government.

He said the BJP was committed to implementing the promises made in its pre-poll manifesto including free power to the irrigation pumpsets used by the farmers.

Before calling on the Governor, Yeddyurappa had several rounds of talks with senior party leaders including BJP Karnataka unit President Sadananda Gowda and Ananthakumar, besides legal experts.