Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar stated that the BJP is just observing the developments in the Congress Party which is facing dissidence in it.

When asked whether the BJP is trying to capture the power using the situation, he said, "We are just watching, and we have to wait. We do not know what will happen. We have not contacted Ramesh Jarkiholi also, and taking a decision to leave Congress or not is left to him," he said, refusing to comment on if BJP would welcome Ramesh if he wishes to join BJP, terming it a hypothetical question.

"As I expected, the countdown for the fall of this government has begun with the expansion of the Cabinet," Shettar told media persons here on Tuesday.

He also noted that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy should have behaved with patience and responsibility, instead of getting emotional and asking for a shootout, in the issue of murder of a JD(S) leader at Maddur. The guilty in the case should be arrested and punished legally, for which BJP would also extend its support, he said.

Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi noted that this coalition government should go, as discontent has blown up in Congress and JD(S), while even JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda is speaking about 'Maitridharma' and confusion is being created, just to hide the failures of the government.

Ramesh angry

Former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi expressed ire against media persons when they sought his reaction, at Hubballi Airport.

"I will not speak anything. Are you threatening me," he asked media persons, on his way to Belagavi.