Independent MLAs withdrew support due to Conginternal bickerings: BJP leader Muralidhar Rao
Bengaluru, Jan 15: BJP General Secretary Muralidhar Rao Tuesday said withdrawal of support to the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka by two independent MLAs was an offshoot of internal bickering among Congress leaders, mainly D K Shivakumar.
"The withdrawal of support by two independent MLAs is the result of internal bickerings among Congress leaders.
Particularly, D K Shivakumar is a problem. He basically is precipitating the problem, but levelling charges against the BJP," he told PTI over phone.
Rao, also in-charge of BJP affairs in Karnataka, stated this when asked to comment on the MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh withdrawing support amid charges that BJP was engineering defections to topple the H D Kumaraswamy government.
Attacking Shivakumar, Rao said he was the main culprit for the fresh political turbulence as he wanted to project himself as the 'true loyal Congress leader.'
Rao said it is wrong on the part of Congress to charge BJP with horse-trading to woo independent MLAS, who are free to withdraw support to the government as they are not bound by any political party.
"Independent MLAs are not the private property of the Congress.
You tell me where is the question of BJP's indulgence in it. They are independent MLAS and they are free to support any government they want.
How can one say that these two MLAs are bounded by the Congress or the JDS?" he asked.
Asked whether the BJP expected more MLAs to quit or withdraw support to the government, Rao said, "It is far too hypothetical a question for now.
I cannot immediately comment because I do not know the gravity of the situation in Karnataka,"
Replying to a query, Rao said the BJP neither wanted the coalition government to continue, nor was it keen on bringing it down.
"We are just waiting and watching the political developments," he said.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
