Karnataka crisis: BS Yeddyurappa confident of rebel MLAs' return

Amid the suspense over the fate of the BS Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka following the revolt by a section of BJP MLAs, both the ruling party and opposition JD(S) today continued their political machinations to maintain control over the rebels now holed up in a Goa hotel.

Tourism minister and mining magnate G Janardhana Reddy, who has been engaged in intense parleys with the 14 rebel MLAs, remained in Goa to persuade his party colleagues and also five independent MLAs to return to Bangalore and save the ministry when it faces the crucial confidence vote on Monday.

A BJP source hinted that the rebel MLAs might return to the city but refused to commit whether they will fall in line with the party and vote in favour of the motion of confidence to be moved by Yeddyurappa in the state assembly on October 11, to fulfil a directive by governor HR Bhardwaj.

Even as Reddy, a dissident-turned-loyalist continued talks with rebels, JD(S) MLA Jameer Ahmed Khan also met them in Goa, sources in Bangalore said.

Yeddyurappa, who is imploring divine intervention to save his government, today offered pooja at the Lakhshminarasimha Swamy temple and said he was confident of winning the trust vote.

"I am confident that the rebel MLAs will return to the city today and I will win the vote of confidence," he told reporters.

He said he visited the temple to pray for the "welfare of people".

In another development, JD(S) state unit president, HD Kumaraswamy, who has also become a rallying point for a section of BJP dissidents, returned to the city today and declared "my Mission Goa has been successful", indicating that there is no change in the resolve of dissidents to vote against the BJP government.

Minister for power Shobha Karandlaje, whose induction into the ministry last month led to the fresh bout of revolt against Yeddyurappa, flayed JD(S) for interfering in the affairs of BJP.

"It is our family affair. What role Kumaraswamy has in it," she asked while speaking to the press and even offered to quit the ministry if the party high command desired.

Opposition Congress leader in the state assembly Siddaramaiah accompanied by KPCC president RV Deshpande met governor HR Bhardwaj to discuss the prevailing political situation.

Congress has been expressing apprehensions over assembly speaker KG Bopaiah conducting the session in a fair manner and had urged the governor to appoint observers to oversee the conduct of business on Monday when Yeddyurappa faces the floor test.

In a shock to JD(S), trying to pull the plug on the BJP government, its MLA MC Ashwath from Chennapatna was believed to have switched over to the saffron party.

"Ashwath has betrayed the party. People will teach him a lession", JD(S) MP from Mandya, N Cheluvaraya Swamy said.