BJP to take ‘final decision’ on K’taka stand-off

Agencies Posted: Oct 02, 2007 at 0000 hrs
New Delhi, October 2: BJP's top brass is meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday to take a "final decision" on the Karnataka stand-off with JD(S) as state party in-charge Yashwant Sinha holds discussions with party MLAs and other state leaders in Bangalore.

"There is nothing much to be done. The ball is in the JD(S)'s court. And the final decision has to be taken today. The message from our side is clear and loud. Today is the last day for JD(S) to keep the promise," said a top party source.

"We are even ready to knock the people's door for their decision. There is no point in waiting till 5th or 15," he added.

Irked by JD(S)'s unwillingness to pass on the baton agreed to 20 months ago, the BJP had given time till today to Chief Minister H D Kumawaswamy to step down and his party to give a letter of support to the Governor.

With Kumaraswamy saying yesterday in Bangalore that "there is no scope for further negotiation", the saffron party seems to be putting up a tough stand to rein in its unrelenting coalition partner and form its first ever government in a south Indian state.

BJP's confidence comes from both its improved performance in the local body election and a dismal chance of Congress extending a friendly hand to JD(S), sources added.

With reports of infighting within BJP suggesting that a former union minister and a senior party leader were lobbying against Deputy Chief Minister D S Yediyurappa, the party was also forced to make a statement projecting an intact house.

"The party is united and one behind Yediyurappa. He will be the next chief minister and reports suggesting otherwise are baseless," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

Tuesday's meeting will be chaired by party leader Rajnath Singh and attended by, among others, L K Advani.

The party also indicated that it would not give any more support to JD(S) to continue to head the government.

On the other hand, the JD(S) said a meeting of its legislators, leaders and executive members would be held here on October 4 and the political affairs committee on October 5 in Delhi to decide on the issue, a clear signal that it was not in a mood to keep its commitment.