Once again Mr H D Kumaraswamy is resorting to resort politics. On Monday, he is expected to take a section of his Party MLAs to a resort on the outskirts of Bangalore City.  This exercise is to thwart  the legislators from working out strategies to form a coalition government by joining hands with the Congress, it is said.

Former chief minister Kumaraswamy has already indicated that he prefers to go before the people rather than realigning with the Congress and the BJP.

On Sunday, he warned that the Congress, instead of trying to break the unity among the JD(S) MLAs, should get ready to face the elections. He appealed to the Congress leaders not to engage in horse trading.

The JD (S) MLAs have been asked to reach Anugraha, the residence of Mr  Kumaraswamy,  at 9 am.

The legislators are expected to attend the JD(S) Legislature Party meeting and later proceed to Golden Spa Resort on Hesarghatta Road. The legislators have been asked to bring luggage which will be sufficient for a three-day outing. The JD(S) Legislature Party meeting is also scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. 

Party chief to stay

Mr Merajuddin Patel said that he would not go to the resort but said, “I will attend the JDLP meeting. The Party has not made any arrangements for the MLAs to stay in a resort”.

Prior to parting ways with the Congress in 2006, Mr Kumaraswamy  had taken a team of his Party legislators to a resort in Goa. Later, he stuck a deal with the BJP to oust the Dharam Singh-led government.

Even after becoming the CM, Kumaraswamy took his legislators to a resort near Pune in January this year.

If the legislators camp at the resort on Monday, then this would be the third time such luxury will be enjoyed by them in the last 20 months, courtesy Kumaraswamy. Mr Kumaraswamy is expected to hold one-to-one meeting with all MLAs during the two-day stay at the resort.

Senior leaders of the party M P Prakash, D Manjunath, H D Revanna and State JD (S) President Merajuddin Patel are expected to keep off from the resort.

Rallying point

Soon after Mr Kumaraswamy became ex-CM, Mr M P Prakash became the rallying point for the Party legislators, who are against facing mid-term polls.

The Congress, it is said, has told Mr Prakash that if he can get the required number of MLAs on his side, then it is ready hold talks to form a coalition government.  However, the Congress has reportedly told the JD(S) leaders that the Gowda family should be kept out of the exercise.

Sharief meets Guv

Veteran Congress leader C K Jaffer Sharief on Sunday night called on Governor. Sharief spent about 30 minutes with the Governor. What transpired at the meeting was not known. However, he described the meeting as a courtesy call.

BJP’s EFFORTS

It is not that the BJP is keeping quiet. It is said that some BJP legislators despite strict opposition from the party central leadership are looking at mobilising support from the JD(S) legislators for forming an alternative government.

Two former BJP ministers are understood to have sent feelers on Saturday to some JD(S) legislators that it was better to join hands with the BJP than the Congress, if they were against elections.

The former ministers are also said to have conveyed that the religious head of a prominent math had also showered his blessings on a BJP led formation with support from the JD(S).

The move comes even as BJP central leadership had directed the state unit to stay away from taking any steps to form the government. Meanwhile, the BJP section which still nurtures hopes of forming the government, is of the view that they can convince the High Command once they have the necessary numbers.

Meanwhile, the KPCC has issued notices to all elected representatives including Union Minister  M V Rajashekaran not to make any statement regarding formation of a coalition government. The letters to this effect  were dispatched to the MLAs and MPs on Saturday. The letters have been signed by KPCC President Mallikarjun Kharge.