BJP may consider moving no-confidence motion if Cong power tussle continues: Basavaraj Bommai
Haveri (PTI): Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the opposition BJP in the state may consider moving a no-confidence motion in the Assembly if the power tussle in the Congress continues.
The BJP leader also predicted that a 'dark horse' may enter the race in the wake of the fight for the CM post between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar.
The Haveri BJP MP said the Congress high command had proposed two to three formulas to resolve the impasse over the leadership issue.
"If the Congress party's internal tussle for the posts of chief minister and deputy chief minister continues like this, there are chances of political turmoil in the State. Though senior Congress leaders at the Centre have proposed two to three formulas to resolve the issue and neither of the leaders has agreed to any. There is information that a new formula is being prepared by keeping both of them aside. There is a possibility of a dark horse entering the race," Bommai told reporters here in Haveri.
The MP said the tug-of-war within the Congress for the top post has intensified, and the Congress high command is helpless.
"The administration in the state has completely collapsed. Farmers in the State are in distress, and development works have come to a standstill. Both leaders have taken this as a matter of prestige. If this same situation continues, there is a possibility of political instability in the State," he noted.
According to him, anything can happen in State politics.
"A horse that is not visible now may appear. The horse that is seen in the photograph will not run. Anything can happen in the State," he remarked.
When asked whether the BJP would move a no-confidence motion against the state government during the Belagavi session of the legislature, he said, "There is time till December 8. If such a situation arises, the occasion to move a no-confidence motion may come".
Responding to state Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi’s remark that horse trading is BJP’s job and not that of Congress, Bommai said, "The Congress has been involved in horse trading since 1969. At that time, Jarkiholi was not even in politics. If one looks at the history of Congress, it will be clear. Don’t they remember that D K Shivakumar had brought all the Maharashtra MLAs and kept Vilasrao Deshmukh under control?" he questioned.
Replying to a question about the state government accusing the Centre regarding the purchase of maize, he said, "Simply trying to shift the blame on the Centre is wrong. They themselves do not have money. The chief minister has ordered the purchase of 10 lakh metric tonnes. Why are they not purchasing? Why has no agency been finalised? Why has money not been released? They are trying to escape from their own responsibility."
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Naval information leak case: Fourth accused held
Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Udupi police have arrested another accused in a case involving the alleged transmission of confidential information related to the Indian Navy to Pakistan, taking the total number of arrests to four, officials said on Thursday.
The arrested accused has been identified as Alif Islam (21), a native of West Bengal, who was presently residing at Marayur village in Idukki district of Kerala, they said.
He was apprehended in connection with the alleged leak of a confidential list containing identification numbers of Indian naval vessels, police said.
According to investigators, the accused are suspected to have shared sensitive information through WhatsApp and Facebook with contacts in Pakistan without authorisation.
The case was registered at Malpe police station in 2025 following a complaint regarding the alleged illegal transmission of naval-related data, officials said.
Police said the investigation pertains to the alleged sharing of a classified list of ship numbers linked to the Indian Navy.
In November 2025, two accused -- Rohit and Santri from Uttar Pradesh -- were taken into custody in connection with the same case. Later, Hirendra Kumar from Gujarat was arrested in December 2025.
With the latest arrest, the number of persons held in the case has risen to four.
Police said one more accused is yet to be apprehended. The operator of the Facebook page allegedly used to transmit the information also remains at large.
Investigators suspect that Islam may be a Bangladeshi national, and efforts are on to verify his citizenship and other credentials.
Further investigation is under way, police added.
