Silence is the name of the game for the BJP, while making as much noise is a strategy its estranged partner the JD(S) has adopted - ahead of the scheduled transfer of power on October 3.

On Friday, it was again the turn of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy cry foul at the BJP, reiterating the issue of Tourism Minister B Sriramulu filing an attempt to murder cases against him in Bellary. “If they (BJP leadership) had any self-respect, they would have taken action by now...It shows the culture of the BJP,” he told reporters in Bangalore.

But the State BJP leaders either remained inaccessible or simply refused to comment on the issue.

The only reaction from Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was in Mandya, was: “In the last 20 months myself and my party have extended co-operation to Kumaraswamy. I hope the same gesture would be shown to me in the coming 20 months.”

On being persistent for a reaction on issues raised by JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda on power transfer, Mr Yediyurappa only said that he would hold talks with Mr Gowda and try to sort out all issues.

Mr Yediyurappa offered prayers at a temple at Mudakathore, Mandya.

Batting for his son, Deve Gowda had already slammed the doors on the BJP’s face for any talks and said a clear no to power transfer if the BJP national leaders did not sort out all issues that had marred the ‘image’ of his son-Chief Minister.

Mr Kumaraswamy was so peeved with the BJP’s game plan of being silent that he warned the saffron party that it may have to pay a heavy price if it continues to be silent and fails to take any action against Sriramulu.

He spewed venom at Bellary BJP leaders saying that they are on a high due to money and muscle power.

The only result of all these hubbub created by the father-son duo in the last two days, was that the BJP national leadership dispatched its senior leader Yeshwanth Sinha, who is also in-charge of Karnataka affairs, to mollify Mr Gowda and handle the situation in the event of any political crisis.

According to BJP sources, the party State leaders are advised by their seniors at the national level to be tight-lipped and not to comment on any statements made by Mr Gowda and Mr Kumaraswamy.

They are also asked not to commit themselves on taking any action against Mr Sriramulu. “If commented or any action taken, it gives an impression that the Bellary issue is genuine and that the party is at fault. Once yielded to pressure, the JD(S) will continue its arm twisting tactics and may lay many more conditions for power transfer,” sources pointed out.

Similarly, the JD(S) strategy is that of forcing and provoking the BJP leaders to speak up, sources said.