We won't back Kumaraswamy after Oct 3rd: BJP

Bangalore, October 1: The BJP decided to stand firm on the power transfer issue in Karnataka, sending out clear signals that it would not accept any conditions from its coalition partner JDS, and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has to make way for B S Yediyurappa on October 3.

According to BJP sources, the party would rather face elections than succumbing to JDS' conditions on power transfer.

State BJP leaders held a meeting in Bangalore on Monday, attended by Yashwant Sinha, in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka, and senior leader H N Anath Kumar, and decided to adopt a tough posture and not to give in to JD-S demands.

"There is no question of allowing H D Kumaraswamy to continue as Chief Minister after October 3. There is no change in our stand that Yediyurappa (who is currently Deputy Chief Minister) is our nominee for Chief Ministership," a senior party leader said.

As per the power-sharing pact reached between the two parties, it was agreed that JD-S would head the government in the first 20 months, leaving the remainder of 20 months for the BJP.