Deadlock continues, rebel MLAs holed up in Goa

Tourism Minister and mining magnate G Janardhana Reddy, who has been engaged in intense parleys with the 14 rebel MLAs, remained in Goa to persuade his party colleagues and also five independent MLAs to return to Bangalore and save the ministry when it faces the crucial confidence vote on Monday.

A BJP source hinted that the rebel MLAs might return to the city but refused to commit whether they will fall in line with the party and vote in favour of the motion of confidence to be moved by Yeddyurappa in the state assembly on October 11, to fulfil a directive by Governor H R Bhardwaj.

Even as Reddy, a dissident-turned-loyalist continued talks with rebels, JDS MLA Jameer Ahmed Khan also met them in Goa, sources here said.

Yeddyurappa, who is imploring divine intervention to save his government, today offered pooja at the Lakhshminarasimha Swamy temple and said he was confident of winning the trust vote.

"I am confident that the rebel MLAs will return to the city today and I will win the vote of confidence," he told reporters.

He said he visited the temple to pray for the "welfare of people". In another development, JDS state unit President, H D Kumaraswamy, who has also become a rallying point for a section of BJP dissidents, returned to the city today and declared "my Mission Goa has been successful", indicating that there is no change in the resolve of dissidents to vote against the BJP Government.

Minister for Power Shobha Karandlaje, whose induction into the ministry last month led to the fresh bout of revolt against Yeddyurappa, flayed JDS for interfering in the affairs of BJP.

"It is our family affair. What role Kumaraswamy has in it," she asked while speaking to the press and even offered to quit the ministry if the party high command desired.
Opposition Congress leader in the state assembly Siddaramaiah accompanied by KPCC President R V Deshpande met Governor H R Bhardwaj to discuss the prevailing political situation.

Congress has been expressing apprehensions over Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah conducting the session in a fair manner and had urged the governor to appoint observers to oversee the conduct of business on Monday when Yeddyurappa faces the floor test.

In a shock to JD-S, trying to pull the plug on the BJP government, its MLA M C Ashwath from Chennapatna was believed to have switched over to the saffron party.

"Ashwath has betrayed the party. People will teach him a lession", JD-S MP from Mandya, N Cheluvaraya Swamy said.