Karnataka dissidents hold ground on eve of trial of strength

"We are all united. Now the Karnataka political situation is totally under control. To change the corrupt government, all the MLAs are united," said Kumaraswamy who arrived here late last night along with 11 dissident Karnataka BJP MLAs from Goa.

Sacked Fisheris Minister Anand Asnotikar claimed that the dissident MLAs were all "united" and alleged that the BJP workers had attacked their vehicles in very state they went after raising the banner of revolt against Yeddyurappa.

"BJP activists are indulging in goondaism. In Mumbai, hundreds of vehicles attacked us. Similarly in Kochi and Goa. We are not under any binding. We are all united for the sake of state of Karnataka," he said.

BJP's efforts to win dissidents over failed yesterday as high drama in Goa marked rival JD(S)' attempts to woo them to its side.  BJP alleged that 12 of its MLAs were "forcibly" taken to an unknown destination by Kumaraswamy, local Congress leaders and plainclothes policemen from a hotel in Goa.

Revenue Minister Renukacharya, who originally led the dissidents and is now back in Yeddyurappa's camp, said in Panaji that "they (the dissidents) have struck a secret understanding with the JD(S)" and have cheated the people of their constituencies by taking "huge amounts" to go with the Opposition.

Asnotikar, however, dismissed BJP charge that the rebels MLAs had been kidnapped.
JD(S) leader and Lok Sabha member N Cheluvarayaswamy had told reporters at Goa airport: "We will win (Yeddyurappa government would lose trust vote). They (the dissidents) Congress and we (JDS) have the required numbers (to form the government).
BJP needs 113 MLAs to win the trial of strength in the 224-member Karnataka assembly.

It had the support of 122 MLAs (including 5 Independents), till 14 party MLAs and five Independent legislators rebelled last week.

Meanwhile, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Goa Shantaram Naik said his party is adopting a "wait and watch" policy on the crisis looming large over B S Yeddyurappa government.

Talking to PTI, Naik said that the party is not interested in the internal quarrels of BJP and will just play a role as per the provisions of the constitution as and when required.

"In the past, whenever Yediyurappa Government faced crisis, Congress party did not play any role to pull down the government and took a mature stand of closely watching the situation," the Congress leader said.

He rubbished allegations of Goa's Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar that Congress leaders were orchestrating a political drama against the Karnataka Chief Minister.