Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday discussed the political situation in Karnataka amidst mounting demands from the Bharatiya Janata Party for installation of a BJP-JDS government in the state.
A Congress meeting attended by top party leaders and Union ministers deliberated on the pros and cons of the issue. The BJP and the Janata Dal Secular have decided to join hands to form the state government after parting ways a fortnight back.
For the Centre to revive the state assembly and allow formation of a government, the state Governor has to send a report recommending such a course.
Normally, the Union Cabinet, which can take such a decision, meets on Thursdays but this week, the meeting is likely to be held on Friday.
The Congress meeting came on a day when a high-level BJP delegation met the Prime Minister and demanded that immediate steps be taken to ensure formation of a government in the state.
Led by senior leader L K Advani and party chief Rajnath Singh, the delegation of BJP MPs told Singh that four days have passed since the BJP-JD(S) combine staked claim for
formation of government but Governor Rameshwar Thakur has not yet recommended the revocation of President's rule.
The Prime Minister assured the delegation that the Centre will go "by the spirit of the Constitution" but did not give any specific timeframe regarding lifting of President's rule in the state.
Congress has been maintaining that the assembly should be dissolved and an early poll should be held as no party would be able to provide a viable and stable government.
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