Bengaluru: Two independent legislators in Karnataka on Tuesday withdrew their support to the Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S)-Congress coalition, prompting speculation that more were on the way out. Former forest and environment minister R.Shankar and H.Nagesh from Mulbagal wrote to the Karnataka governor withdrawing their support to the coalition government “with immediate effect", in what appeared to be part of a larger plan. Though the withdrawal will impact the coalition, the numbers still favour the Kumaraswamy government. The coalition has 118 legislators, including 37 JD(S) MLAs, one from the Bahujan Samaj Party, and 80 from the Congress, including the speaker in the 224-seat assembly, which is well above the majority of 113. Assuming the two independents do extend their support to the BJP, the saffron outfit will increase its tally to 106, and will still require the support of seven more legislators. Though the coalition partners were quick to downplay the event, speculation that at least three Congress legislators, currently in Mumbai, will also switch sides heightened fears of an imminent collapse of the government. Also Read | Karnataka row: BJP MLAs huddle at Haryana resort fearing poaching The stability of the coalition government has been questioned repeatedly since it assumed power in May. A press conference, which was to be convened at 5pm on Tuesday in Mumbai by the Congress legislators was, however, cancelled. The Karnataka chief minister on Tuesday reacted to the developments rather calmly. “If two independent MLAs withdraw their support, what will be the numbers," he said, adding: “I am totally relaxed." Kumaraswamy said he was enjoying the “episodes" on Kannada news channels, which have been predicting defections from the Congress and an imminent fall of the government. “We are working in a democratic system and it’s not easy for anybody to topple a government," G. Parameshwara, deputy chief minister and senior Congress leader, said. The BJP denied it was poaching legislators, saying mistrust and dissatisfaction between the JD(S) and Congress would be the reason if the government fell. The JD(S) and Congress, which have shared a turbulent relationship in the past, have not been able to bury all their differences. The two parties have openly come out against each other on several contentious topics and are currently playing hardball on seat-sharing for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The coalition’s attempts to portray the saffron outfit as a destabilizing agent is working well for the two parties who had joined hands after last year’s assembly elections to take on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The Congress, which is trying to mobilise the opposition to help it get back to power at the centre, has accused the BJP-led Union government of destroying democracy and democratic institutions in India. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.<doc-sep>BENGALURU: The Congress leadership might be thrilled with the manner in which BJP's 'Operation Lotus' has floundered, but sources said all is not well as the crisis was triggered by seniors in the party. Sources said credit for defusing the crisis should go to chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy , who stepped in and monitored the situation on a case-to-case basis. "As this coalition government is the creation of AICC president Rahul Gandhi, the CM was in touch with Congress leaders in New Delhi and party MLAs being tapped by BJP," a source said. "This is why he was unperturbed about the situation. "Sources said one big reason for the three-day crisis was the power tussle between Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah and water resources minister DK Shivakumar, who is acknowledged as the best trouble-shooter in the party. Plum posts in the cabinet and boards and corporations going to their acolytes is said to have fanned discontent which BJP tried to exploit. "BJP was not the original instigator of the crisis," a minister said. "It only saw an opportunity and responded to the situation," he added.Deputy CM G Parameshwara admitted Congress is to be blamed for the crisis, saying: "I don't deny it. Naturally some people who intend to join the cabinet or become ministers express their feelings in different ways whenever there is an (cabinet) expansion or an issue of ministry. But after some time, this feeling subsides and they realise that not all can become ministers. We also try to accommodate them in as many ways as possible. "Parameshwara also justified Kumaraswamy acting as the mediator on behalf of the Congress: "He is the chief minister of the state and not of any party," he said. "Of course he was in touch with the legislators and spoke to them. "Kumaraswamy is said to have tasked Congress leaders MB Patil and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, both ministers in his cabinet, with ensuring that disgruntled MLAs returned to the fold. "I got in touch with B Nagendra, JN Ganesh, LBP Bheema Naik, Amaregouda L Bayapur and H Nagesh (who withdrew support to the government)," admitted Khan, who declined to reveal the modus operandi. "I was asked to go to Mumbai, but instead operated over the phone. "The minister said he was confident of getting legislators Ramesh Jarkiholi and Umesh Jadhav back to the fold on Thursday. Patil said all disgruntled MLAs were in touch with some of them and news that the government was in trouble was "only hype".However, insiders admit the party cannot function this way. Some are also upset that AICC general secretary KC Venugopal is not giving the state unit enough time as he is preoccupied with politics in Kerala.<doc-sep>Congress protests outside the 5-star resort where 104 BJP lawmakers are staying Congressmen have been protesting outside the Gurugram resort where more than 100 Karnataka BJP lawmakers who flew to Delhi over the weekend, are staying. The official reason for the break is not known. The leaders were flown to Delhi on the weekend, when the BJP had a two-day leadership conclave. Now 104 legislators have virtually taken over the entire resort, occupying 60 of its 100-odd rooms. The rooms cost Rs. 30,000 each, though it is not known whether they paid this or were given a discount. Hotel insiders say since they arrived, the police have placed extra layers of security, which means hardly any other guests are left. BS Yeddyurappa told NDTV yesterday, was a boot camp before the national election due by May. In a jolt to the seven-month-old Janata Dal Secular-Congress coalition in Karnataka two independent lawmakers H Nagesh and R Shankar withdrew support from the ruling state government. Here are Highlights of Karnataka BJP Leaders in Gurugram: Jan 16, 2019 19:23 (IST) Two of the Congress lawmakers in Karnataka, missing since the weekend, are back. Bhima Naik, the lawmaker from Hagaribommanahalli, surfaced this afternoon -- a day after his party colleague Anand Singh. Denying that he was in talks with the BJP, he claimed that he was in constant touch with his party. Jan 16, 2019 13:26 (IST) Amidst allegations of poaching by BJP, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said there was no threat to his government. "Our coalition government is running smoothly. I am relaxed. We are in touch with all our (Janata Dal-Secular and Congress) legislators and have their support," he told the media. Jan 16, 2019 12:39 (IST) Congress Legislature Party meeting has been convened on the 18th January in Bangalore Jan 16, 2019 11:53 (IST) Drama to end in a day or two: K C Venugopal, Karnataka Congress In-charge K C Venugopal, Karnataka Congress In-charge: I'm in touch with all our MLAs, this drama is going to end in a day or a two. We are all together, there is no internal fight in Congress. This is all baseless. pic.twitter.com/3OZaVQ42QJ - ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2019 Jan 16, 2019 11:00 (IST) Congress workers protest outside the hotel in Gurugram where Karnataka BJP leaders are staying Haryana: Congress workers protest outside the hotel in Gurugram where Karnataka BJP MLAs are staying. Protestors allege BJP is indulging in horse trading pic.twitter.com/9Mn2cvc5Ut - ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2019 Jan 16, 2019 10:18 (IST) Twitter War Between Siddaramaiah, BJP The political turmoil in Karnataka in the wake of two lawmakers withdrawing support to the coalition government of Congress and JD(S) led to a Twitter war between Congress leader Siddaramaiah and the BJP. Mr Siddaramaiah launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him whether his slogan ''Saaf Niyat'' (Clean intention) meant a coup and grabbing power. Jan 16, 2019 09:38 (IST) HD Deve Gowda. former PM and JDS Chief: The two MLAs(who withdrew support from Karnataka Govt) are not affiliated with any party. They are independents. There is no need to hype it up so much. It is all a media hype. pic.twitter.com/ObDWT53sAR - ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2019<doc-sep>Friday's CLP meet is expected to be show of strength for the Congress, in a counter to BJP's alleged toppling bid which the ruling coalition has said has turned out to be a "flop". Amid the ongoing political crisis in Karnataka, the crucial Congress Legislature Party (CLP) was held in Bengaluru on Friday. However, four Congress MLAs - Umesh Jadhav, Ramesh Jarkiholi and Mahesh Kumathalli and B Nagendra - are not attending the crucial meeting giving the party jitters. The meet was being seen as a show of strength for the Congress, in a counter to BJP's alleged toppling bid which the ruling coalition has said has turned out to be a "flop". In a notice issued to Congress MLAs, CLP leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah warned that absence of MLAs at Friday's meeting would be viewed "seriously". "I would like to bring to your notice that your absence will be viewed seriously and it will be considered that you have voluntarily decided to leave the primary membership of the Indian National Congress," he said and added that action would be initiated under the Anti-Defection Law . Speaking to reporters at Hubballi, Siddaramaiah claimed that all the party MLAs would attend the CLP meeting. Asked if disgruntled MLAs coming back into the party fold would be made ministers, Siddaramaiah said, "We have not told anyone that we will make them minister or any other thing. There is no disgruntlement in the Congress." He also hit out at the BJP and alleged that the party has failed to work as opposition in the state. BJP has no right to talk about Congress. BJP has failed to work as opposition in the state. it is doing anti-democracy rather than working as opposition.” WHAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE DAY: 5:45 pm: 75 Congress MLAs attend legislators party meeting. MLA Umesh Jadhav writes a letter saying he won't be able to attend the meeting due to ill health. 5:08 pm: Four Congress MLAs skip crucial party meeting in Bengaluru. Umesh Jadhav, Ramesh Jarkiholi and Mahesh Kumathalli and B Nagendra not present in meeting. 1:40 pm: BJP not responsible for confusion in Congress-JD(S) coalition, says BS Yeddyurappa. "It is far from the truth that we are causing confusion in the Congress-JD(S) coalition. We 104 people (BJP MLAs) are together and one. Our only intention is to win 20 Lok Sabha seats (in Karnataka) and we are making preparations for it," Yeddyurappa said. 12:10 pm: Siddaramaiah has dismissed the allegations of threatening levelled by BS Yeddyurappa. Speaking to ANI, he said; " I spoke to Satish Jarkiholi to call Ramesh Jarkiholi and call him for CLP meet. I'm not ordering them it's BJP's allegation. Yeddyurappa was chief minister and has been alleging against me of poaching. Does he have any self respect?" 11:55 am: According to reports, three Congress legislators are still believed to be in Mumbai. 11:40 am: Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parmeshwara said that the the discussions will be held on various topics including the current political scenario in the state and the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. Lashing out at BS Yeddyurappa he said; "Yeddyurappa is president of BJP, he need not worry about Congress MLAs, all of our MLAs will attend the CLP meeting. The pathetic thing is that BJP stooped to this level, they approached our MLAs and are still doing it but they'll not succeed". 11:33 am: On the other hand, Yeddyurappa said that he was not at all bothered about the Congress Legislature Party Meeting. "They're telling many things, I'm not responsible for that. Our 104 MLAs are worried about our party and preparing for Lok Sabha elections. ", he said. 11:15 am: In a breather to the Congress on Thursday, more MLAs who had allegedly gone incommunicado and were on the poaching list of BJP, surfaced. Yellapur MLA Shivram Hebbar who met KPCC chief Dinesh Gunduu Rao said he had gone to Andaman and Nicobar Islands with family, as per the plan made about a month ago. Another Congress MLA JN Ganesh from Kampli termed reports that he had planned to switch to BJP as a ‘creation’ and ‘false’. Congress MLA from Ballari B Nagendra said he was in Mumbai for personal reasons, business and other things. BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday arrived in Bengaluru amid allegations of trying to destabilise the coalition government in Karnataka. On arrival, he asserted his party was not involved in any operation to topple the Congress-JD(S) government while adding that his party MLAs were also flying back from Gurugram, where they are staying for the past few days. Earlier, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had slammed the BJP for making ‘futile attempts’ to destabilise his government and accused it of keeping own MLAs in ‘confinement’ at Gurugram. Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said Yeddyurappa making repeated claims that Congress-JD(S) leaders, were luring his party MLAs, was ‘surprising’ for him. “…Today I want to ask Yeddyurappa and his friends, how long have you been staying at a hotel in Gurugram, for what sake have you kept MLAs in confinement?” Kumaraswamy asked while accusing the BJP of ‘doing everything’ to poach coalition MLAs with allurements. In response, Yeddyurappa said, “No one from BJP has indulged in any kind of operation or luring Congress-JD(S) MLAs. We had gathered all our MLAs at one place and were discussing preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls for the last two-three days. Today all are coming back.” He added, “Why do they have to fear if we gather our MLAs, I don’t understand. Internal fight within Congress and JD(S) is going out of control, to cover up their internal squabbles, they should not blame BJP.” Karnataka is witnessing a political turmoil following charges of horse trading flung at each other by the ruling coalition and the BJP amid speculation that about six MLAs are ready to jump ship to the BJP side. The Congress has, however, dismissed reports, saying they are ‘intact’. Earlier on Tuesday, two MLAs withdrew support to the seven-month-old government led by HD Kumaraswamy. (With PTI inputs) WATCH VIDEO: Latest India News<doc-sep>
The Siddaramaiah-headed Congress is confident that all its 80 legislators will attend the meet. After days of worrying about the stability of its coalition government in Karnataka, the state Congress can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It appears safe for now. The party held a protest against the BJP, whom they have accused of trying to poach ruling legislators, at the Maurya Circle in Bengaluru on Thursday. Several Congress lawmakers appeared to be missing in action over the last few days but things brightened up when two of those on the list - Anand Singh and Bheema Naik - turned up at the party's informal meeting venue of the Kumar Krupa guesthouse. Congress leaders maintain that the remaining MLAs will also make an appearance at the legislature party meet on Friday. "All the 80 MLAs will be present at the meeting," said Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president Eshwar Khandre. Despite this show of confidence, doubts remain about some MLAs such as Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh Jadhav and B Nagendra. Mr Jarkhiholi was recently dropped from the Karnataka cabinet. The Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government in Karnataka has a strength of 118 in the 224-member house. Even if two or three MLAs choose to leave the Congress, the coalition will still remain above the halfway mark of 113. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made it clear that attendance at Friday's legislature party meet is compulsory, and action would be taken against lawmakers who fail to come. Karnataka Home Minister MB Patil said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah were possibly involved in creating the crisis by offering Congress legislators "ministerial positions and cash" in return for jumping ship. The BJP has responded to taunts about its "failed attempt" to bring down the government by claiming that there was no such move on its part. "This is what I want to ask the Congress: What operation were we performing? They were the ones who claimed that many BJP MLAs were in touch with them. The Chief Minister himself offered money to one of our MLAs and promised him a ministry," claimed state BJP president BS Yeddyurappa, adding that there was no truth in the "rumours" about his party. Mr Yeddyurappa has already returned to Bengaluru from Gurugram, where he had been camping with 100-odd BJP lawmakers in an apparent bid to prevent them from joining the ruling side. He paid a visit to the ailing Dr Shivakumar Swamiji, seer of the Siddaganga Mutt at Tumakuru, soon afterwards. The rest of THE BJP legislators are expected to return soon, and Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao has rolled out the proverbial red carpet for them with a sarcastic tweet. "We extend a hearty welcome to all Karnataka BJP MLAs who are returning home after an extended holiday at a luxury resort near Delhi. Now that they are sufficiently rejuvenated, let us hope they begin working in the constituencies they have neglected for so long," he said.