Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to resign on Monday. Kumaraswamy says JDS Legislature Party meeting would be held at 5.30 pm and thereafter he would resign.
BANGALORE: Bringing the curtains down on the political drama of the last fortnight, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday decided to resign after a blunt message from the Governor that he had no numbers to prove his majority and may better step down.
With the Congress finally coming out with its stand that it would have no truck with the JD(S) and demanding dismissal of the government and imposition of President's rule, Governor Rameshwar Thakur consulted constitution experts and had a meeting with the Chief Minister.
Kumaraswamy, to whose government the BJP on Sunday formally withdrew support after he failed to transfer power, declined to disclose details of his discussions with the Governor merely saying he had been given an 'advise'.
Raj Bhawan sources said the Governor told the Chief Minister that he did not have the requisite numbers to prove his majority and what was his opinion on tendering his resignation.
Kumaraswamy, whose Cabinet had sought convening of the Assembly on October 18 for a floor test, promised to get back to the Governor by the evening.
"After the JDS legislature party meeting to be held at 5.30 pm today, I will resign", Kumaraswamy later said.
Two Congress delegations, which met the Governor, demanded the dismissal of the Kumaraswamy Government, noting that it had been reduced to a minority after the coalition partner BJP withdrew its support.
From the Raj Bhawan, Kumaraswamy drove straight to the Padmanabhanagar residence of his father, HD Deve Gowda, where the party MLAs assembled to chart the future course of action.
After hour-long confabulations, it was decided to hold a JDS legislature party meeting at 5.30 pm, followed by the resignation of the Chief Minister.
Kumaraswamy had earlier held the view that he should be given an opportunity to seek a trial of strength on the floor of the Assembly on October 18.
Senior party leader and Home Minister MP Prakash said the JDS had two options before it, facing the floor test or Government resigning. "We opted for the second option", he said.
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