As many as 119 of the 123 BJP legislators (including six independents) attended the meeting in Bangalore on Tuesday and unanimously agreed to extend support to Bopaiah.
The four absentees have promised that they would be present in the House when the election is held on Wednesday.

The sudden show of unity in the party, riddled with dissidence, is the assurance given by Yeddyurappa to all the disgruntled legislators that he would give them a patient hearing soon after the conclusion of the on-going session, party insiders said.

The Chief Minister on Tuesday morning sent messages through his close aides to the disgruntled legislators that he would soon convene a two-day legislature party meeting during first week of January to consider their demands, source said.

The filing of nomination of Congress leader T B Jayachandra for the Speaker's post is another reason for the cohesion in the party, the sources added.

MLAs briefed
On Tuesday, the Congress MLAs were briefed about the party's strategy in fielding the candidate for the election during the legislature party meeting. It was decided to hold a meeting again on Wednesday morning.

The CLP also decided to hold an indefinite dharna in the Assembly over the flood relief work. The party will stage the dharna soon after the CM's reply on the issue, sources said.

Tie-up to continue
The JD(S) leaders, including all MLAs and the party chief H D Deve Gowda, met at a private hotel and discussed the party's strategy to be adopted in the election.
After the meeting, Deve Gowda told media persons that the co-ordination between the JD(S) and the Congress will continue even after election to the Speaker's post. Gowda said all 27 JD(S) MLAs would support the Congress candidate. He was happy with the tie-up and hoped that the co-ordination would continue on all issues in future. JD(S) leaders had already discussed with Congress party leader Siddaramaiah in this regard, he said.