Karnataka crisis While BJP claimed that the resignations were the result of an ongoing “power struggle” between former chief minister Siddaramaiah and incumbent HD Kumaraswamy, the grand old party alleged BJP’s hand behind the developments.
The rebel Congress MLAs, who have been camping in Mumbai’s Sofitel Hotel, on Sunday refused to withdraw their resignations and said they won’t attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Tuesday. Addressing the media outside the hotel, Congress legislator S T Somashekar said, “We all 13 legislators have resigned and ten are here. We all are together. There is no question of taking back the resignations. We will not attend the CLP meeting on Tuesday.”
Earlier on Sunday, Congress had issued a circular to all party MLAs in Karnataka calling CLP meeting on Tuesday. The circular also mentioned that strict action will be taken against MLAs on failing to attend the meeting.
After reaching Bengaluru airport, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy headed to Taj West End hotel where he held a meeting with top JD(S) and Congress leaders.
Meanwhile, the chartered plane that had flown 10 dissident MLAs of the Congress and the JD(S) flew from Karnataka to Mumbai Saturday night belongs to a company associated with Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a Rajya Sabha member of the BJP, company sources said on Sunday. “It is a charter operation and the aircraft is chartered regularly by various people,” a top official of the company told PTI requesting anonymity.
