Opposition jittery, but in no mood to give up

Cong decides to pressure Centre; HDK camps in Delhi

The Congress leaders on Wednesday decided to mount pressure on the party’s Central leadership to act. The party leaders will stage a dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue on Thursday at 11 am, demanding Chief Minister Yeddyurappa’s resignation. Protests will also be staged at all districts headquarters.

Besides, a meeting of the Congress legislature party has been convened on Thursday to discuss about MLAs resigning en masse.

JD(S) State President H D Kumaraswamy, who has been camping in Delhi for the last five days, is learnt to be making efforts to muster the support of ‘secular’ parties to oust the
BJP Government.

He is likely to return to Bangalore only after the Centre takes a decision on the Governor’s report.

JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda celebrated his 79th birthday by performing a special pooja at the Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple in Melkote. He also performed a homa at Ahobila Mutt on the occasion.

Leaders of the Opposition parties became anxious when Chief Minister Yeddyurappa expressed confidence that the Governor’s report would be rejected, on returning from Delhi. Moreover, the Governor extended an olive branch to Yeddyurappa by calling him a friend.

Bhardwaj also sounded defensive when he said his effort was only meant to uphold the Constitution and that he would not resign. The Governor had sent his report to the Centre on May 15.

A group of Congress MLAs held a meeting with Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah, at the latter’s residence in view of the speculation that the Centre was soft-pedalling the Governor’s recommendation.

The leaders decided to seriously consider the plan to resign en masse at the legislature party meeting.

The Congressmen fear that they would cut a sorry figure if the Centre rejected the Governor’s recommendation. The party leaders had unanimously extended their support to the Governor’s move.

Addressing reporters, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that the BJP rule would end by Thursday evening.

“It is a fit case for invoking Article 356 of the Constitution. The Governor has already explained all aspects of his recommendation to the Centre,” he added.

Senior Congress leader Janardana Poojari said the Governor’s report was a golden opportunity for the party to give the much-needed relief to the people of the State from the maladministration of Yeddyurappa.

“We should all salute the Governor for his good work,” he said.

Asked why the Centre was delaying taking any action, he said the Governor’s report was under serious consideration.

“The decision to dissolve the State Assembly should get Parliament’s approval. The Congress does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha to get the  approval. Hence, the party is holding consultations with other parties to cobble up support,” Poojari added.