JDS issues whip to MLAs to vote against BJP

The BJP-led government in Karnataka received a major jolt on Monday when its coalition partner -- Janata Dal Secular -- issued a whip to vote against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in the state legislative assembly.

Yeddyurappa is set to take the floor test at the assembly later in the day.

At the just-concluded meeting of the JDS legislature party, party supremo H D Deve Gowda directed all legislators to vote against Yeddyurappa.

The BJP needs at least 113 votes to form a government. The JDS stated that the whip had been issued as the BJP failed to comply with the conditions set out by the party.

The JDS had authorized both Deve Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy to take a final decision in this regard. Shortly after the meeting, all JDS legislators left for the Vidhan Soudha, where a special session of the legislative assembly is being convened.

Yeddyurappa and other BJP legislators already reached the assembly, where the session has just commenced.

If the JDS votes against Yeddyurappa, he will fall short of majority by 34 votes. If all legislators vote in favour of Yeddyurappa, then he will have the support of 129 legislators in the House.

At the JDS meeting, many legislators opposed the decision to vote against the BJP. Party sources said that despite expressing their displeasure they had no option but to abide by the whip lest they would have to face disqualification.

Even as the whip was issued, the BJP continues to remain confident that they will sail through this crisis. BJP state chief Sadananda Gowda said there should be no problem for them to prove their majority. He also said that it was too early to comment whether B S Yeddyurappa would tender his resignation.

He said that the picture would become clear by the end of the session.