Reiterating their demand to dissolve the House, the leaders asked the PM not to allow the ‘unstable’ BJP-JD(S) combine to form government. The Congress leaders included former ministers R V Deshpande and Kagodu Thimmappa, former Speaker Ramesh Kumar and MLC V S Ugrappa. AICC Karnataka in-charge Prithviraj Chavan was also present.

Former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, who was with these leaders during meetings with ministers Shivraj Patil, P R Dasmunshi and Oscar Fernandes, was not present during the discussions with Dr Singh as he had to leave for Bangalore.

“The Prime Minister said the Centre would act as per Constitution after getting the Governor’s report. In our assessment, the response was positive”, Ugrappa told Deccan Herald.

Earlier addressing a press conference, Siddaramaiah and Deshpande said the BJP-JD(S) combine could not be invited to form the government as it will be a conditional one. No conditional arrangement can provide stability.

“According to various Supreme Court judgements, stability of the government is crucial in the formation of the government. Also, an alternative government does not mean the same formation, which in this case, is the BJP-JD(S) combine”.

“Everyone including JD(S) and BJP had requested the dissolution of the House. Now driven with the lust of power they are posing to be one. That too on a conditional basis. We are here to convey that an unstable combine should not be invited to form the government,”  Siddaramiah said.