BJP will decide after Karnataka speaker decides on MLAs' resignation: Yeddyurappa
Bengaluru, Jul 7: The BJP is watching the political developments in Karnataka after the resignation of over a dozen ruling Congress-JD(S) MLAs, and those in the party are not "sanyasis" to rule out the possibility of forming the government, state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa said Sunday.
"Let's wait and watch. Are we sanyasis (hermits)? After the resignation process is over and the speaker takes his decision, leaders of our party will discuss and decide," he said in response to a question whether the BJP was preparing to form the government.
Speaking to reporters in Tumkur, the former chief minister said, "Ours is a national party, after discussing with the national leadership, we will take a decision."
Asked whether the coalition government will collapse, he repeated, "Let's wait and watch".
The Congress-JD(S) government has plunged into a crisis, with 13 MLAs of the alliance submitting their resignation to the Speaker, 12 of them did it on Saturday.
Nine MLAs of the Congress and three of the JD(S) reached the Speaker's office to put in their papers Saturday and later met Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhavan.
Another Congress MLA, Anand Singh, submitted his resignation on July 1.
The ruling coalition, which has a strength of 118 in the 224-member assembly, faces the risk of losing its majority if the resignations are accepted.
The fresh threat to the 13-month-old government came at a time when Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was in the US. He is expected to return this evening.
Stating he was not in a position to say anything about the survival of the government, Yeddyurappa said everything depends on the Speaker.
"From July 12, assembly session has been convened, the chief minister is abroad... According to me the coalition government has lost majority and it is the opinion expressed in all leading papers. This is the reality; a decision has to be taken by the speaker and the chief minister," he said.
Responding to a question, he said there were reports that more MLAs may resign.
Meanwhile, the Congress has blamed the BJP for the resignation of the MLAs.
Comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "Mohammad bin Tughlaq", the Karnataka Congress said in a tweet, "He is a politician who has no ethical or moral values. Sidelining the Constitution and democracy, 'operation Kamala' has been done in ten states. Let Karnataka not fall prey to Modi's conspiracy."
Reacting to this, the state BJP tweeted, "Tired of state government's Tughlaq rule, people of the state have reduced both coalition parties to single seats (in Lok Sabha polls)."
"Tired of your coalition government's misrule your own MLAs have responded by resigning. Instead of unnecessarily blaming BJP at least now concentrate towards development," it added.
Meanwhile, hectic meetings are underway in the Congress, to discuss the next course of action by the party, with AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also camping in the city.
CLP leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, senior minister D K Shivakumar are also part of the discussion.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said meetings are going on and "we are trying to find a medicine and solution" to the current crisis.
"I hope that everything will be resolved soon, and ready for any sacrifices to save the government and the party."
Shivakumar also met JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda at his residence and discussed the ongoing developments.
Meetings are also on in JD(S) circles, at party patriarch Deve Gowda's residence.
Speaking to reporters, the party's state unit chief H K Kumaraswamy said, "We have called our party MLAs for a meeting in the evening, the chief minister is also expected, where all the developments will be discussed."
He said attempts were on to pacify three party legislators who have resigned, to withdraw their resignations.
"We will come to a decision at the meeting on what steps to be taken."
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55-bed free palliative care centre to open near Bengaluru’s Nelamangala
Bengaluru: A new 55-bed palliative care centre for terminally ill patients, named the Nemmadi Centre for Palliative Care, will be inaugurated near Nelamangala on Sunday. The facility will offer all services completely free of cost.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald on Saturday, the centre has been set up by the Sukruthi Charitable Trust in collaboration with Rotary Bangalore Midtown. Around Rs 20 crore has been invested in the project, which will operate without a billing counter, ensuring that families do not have to pay for treatment.
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The centre will provide comprehensive palliative care, including medical support, counselling for patients and their families, and bereavement care. The facility aims to help families cope with the physical and emotional challenges of caring for terminally ill patients.
“A cornerstone of the project was the generous donation of land by former MLC E Krishnappa, which made the centre possible,” DH quoted Palani Loganathan as saying.
The inauguration ceremony will be attended by Madhusudan Sai, founder of the Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Rajya Sabha MP Dr C.N. Manjunath who also serves as the chief medical advisor to the centre will also be present, along with several senior government officials and healthcare leaders.
