Fate in balance, Shettar busy with budget

Bangalore, Feb 2: With the fate of his government hanging by a thread, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is busy making preparations to present the budget proposals on February 8.

With one more MLA submitting his resignation on Friday, the total number of?BJP?MLAs who have put in their papers has touched 14. While 12 resignations were accepted on January 28, the resignation of Vittala Katakadonda, BJP?MLA from Nagthan of Bijapur district has been set aside by Speaker K G Bopaiah on the grounds that it is not in order.

In case the resignations of Suresh and Katakadonda are accepted, then the BJP's strength will plummet to 106 from the persent 108, which is inclusive of 105 BJP?MLAs, one Independent, one nominated and the Speaker. The number required to remain in power is 106. The combined opposition strength is 102 exclusive of six Indepedents.

B?Sriramulu, BSR Congress MLA, has announced that he would stand by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar in case he has to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

If Shettar has to face a no-confidence motion or move a confidence motion in case the Governor directs him to do so, then he may have to depend on independents or opposition parties to survive.

KJP ?Vice President K?H?Srinivas, when contacted by this paper, said Shettar is unlikely to present the budget because, in the next couple of days, at least four to five BJP MLAs would be resigning. However, he did not reveal the names of those who would put in their papers.

When pointed out the KJP seems to be not in a position to get more BJP?MLAs to its fold, Srinivas said: “We are not in a hurry. Let the MLAs decide on their own. Our aim is to build the KJP?and not pull down the Shettar government. The dwindling strength of BJP may eventually make the Governor to ask Shettar to prove his majority in the House,” he said.

Asked whether the KJP?is not apprehensive of earning the wrath of Linagayts for pulling down the government, Srinivas said Shettar is neither considered a Lingayat leader nor leader of North Karnataka. “It was Yeddyurappa who was instrumental in making Shettar the CM. The BJP may blame us if it loses power. It is understandable and we are prepared to face it,” he said.

BJP?MP and former speaker D?B Chandre Gowda said that the Governor, while addressing the joint session of the legislature on February 4, will present the policies of the government. The Opposition parties may demand the chief minister to prove his majority. In case the government fails to survive, the budget could be presented in the Parliament.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a book launch on Gujarat elections, 2012, Gowda said it was improper to destabilise an elected government. “A bunch of 15 to 20 legislators are trying to pull down the government. It is unconstitutional.”

He also said that there is no rule that a Speaker should be in his office all the time. He need not wait indefinitely assuming that some legislators would come and resign. A speaker is not a clerk to wait in his office, Gowda added.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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