#KarnatakaPoliticalCrisis: Mallikarjun Kharge blames BJP, denies K'taka CM post rumors
What's the story
Following the resignation of 12 MLAs of the Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge blamed BJP for the political crisis. He alleged BJP is "engineering defections" to oust governments in the states where it isn't in power. Kharge also dismissed rumors that he would be appointed the next Karnataka CM, alleging BJP is exploiting the situation and creating confusion. Here's more.
Quote
Flimsy information being fed to press to divide us: Kharge
"These are all flimsy information being fed to the press just to divide us," Kharge said on rumors about him becoming the next Karnataka CM. "I want this alliance government to continue. We want that this should go on smoothly," he told ANI.
Twitter Post
Kharge on whether he could be made next K'taka CM
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress, when asked that there are talks that he could be made the Karnataka CM: I don't know. I want this alliance govt to continue. We want that this should go on smoothly. These are all flimsy information being fed to the press just to divide us. pic.twitter.com/NSDXRnjoYh
— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2019
BJP's role?
Yeddyurappa denies BJP's role in Congress, JD(S) MLAs' resignations
Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP President BS Yeddyurappa denied any role of his party in the resignations of lawmakers from the Congress-JD(S) coalition in the state. "You know about the political developments. Let's wait and see. I don't want to answer to what HD Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah say. I am nowhere related to this," he told news agency ANI.
Twitter Post
Nowhere related to this: Yeddyurappa on political crisis
BS Yeddyurappa, BJP in Bengaluru, #Karnataka : I am going to Tumkur and I will come back at 4 pm. You know about the political developments. Let's wait and see. I don't want to answer to what HD Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah say. I am nowhere related to this. pic.twitter.com/vYNbvKRcJQ
— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2019
Details
BJP accused of attempting to bring K'taka government down
The Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka, which came to power in May 2018, has remained volatile, struggling with infighting even as both the ruling parties accused the Opposition BJP of trying to horse-trade their lawmakers. CM HD Kumaraswamy and the Congress have now blamed the BJP for pursuing their MLAs and attempting to bring down the coalition government in the state.
Seats
If MLAs' resignations are accepted, Congress-JD(S) coalition won't have majority
In the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, the Congress-JD(S) coalition has 118 seats, including one BSP MLA and one Independent lawmaker. However, after the resignation of 12 MLAs, the number will come down to 105; the majority mark in the House will also decrease to 106 from 113. If the lawmakers' resignations are accepted, the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition will not have a majority in the House.
Information
BJP says it should be invited to form new government
The BJP, which currently has 105 seats in the Karnataka Assembly, said it should be invited to form the new government in the state if the current government falls or the ruling Congress-JD(S) coaling lacks majority in the Assembly.