Do you know who opposed power transfer to the BJP in the crucial JD(S) Legislature Party meeting on October 2? According to the party sources, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy himself said no to hand over the baton.

“Majority of the ministers expressed their views in favour of the BJP. But the CM, at last, spoke against it,” a senior minister said.

At the JD(S)LP meeting, which started after BJP ministers tendering their resignations, all legislators and ministers were given ‘freedom’ to talk openly. While some vehemently opposed power transfer, majority of them learnt to have said that it is in the interest of the party to stick to the power sharing agreement. The supporters learnt to have said that power transfer is an emotional issue. “Voters would appreciate the JD(S) if power is transferred...In case of breaching the agreement, voters may let down the party in the next elections,” those who supported power transfer were quoted as saying in the meeting, which went on for over two and half hours.
Then, the CM asked his former political secretary Suryanarayana Reddy of Bellary to speak on the issue. Mr Reddy spoke for nearly half an hour and explained in detail how Reddy brothers of the BJP have been “terrorising” the district. To this, ministers who wanted power transfer, learnt to have advised the Chief Minister to support BJP-led Government for just three months.

“However, Mr Kumaraswamy rejected it saying that power transfer will be either for full 20 months or there will no transfer of power,” sources quoted the CM as saying.

The Chief Minister finally learnt to have asked JD(S)LP to allow him take a decision and that he would ensure that their career is not harmed.