No takers in KJP for Olekar's resignation threat

Though another deadline, January 23, of Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), set by Haveri MLA Nehru Olekar to quit from assembly membership is just a couple of days away, total silence prevails among KJP MLAs and leaders of Northern Karnataka about putting the BJP government to further trouble.

Except a few, most BJP MLAs who have shifted their loyalty to the KJP refused to comment on the issue and preferred to keep a low profile. However, Dharwad MLA Seema Masuti, a KJP loyalist, said nothing will happen on January 23 and everything will go on as usual. When asked further, she said: “The BJP government will present its budget as per the schedule and elections will be held on their own time. No plans for any destabilisation,” she said.

Hubli-Dharwad West MLA Chandrakant Bellad said he does not know anything about post-January 23 happenings. “I am feeling not well enough to speak anything more,” he said.

Gadag MLA Shrishailappa Bidarur showed some enthusiasm to speak about Olekar’s threat.

“We will have a meeting on January 23 in Bangalore and the deadline may be extended. We earlier thought that budget would be presented on January 28. However, the budget date has been fixed to be February 8; so the deadline may change. However, I cannot predict now as we will take a collective decision,” he said.

Former minister and KJP vice president Jabbar Khan Honnalli said he does not know about the deadline of January 23.