Amidst speculation, it seems that the BJP is not in a hurry to stake claim to form government in Karnataka as the fate of 17 rebel MLAs, who are from the Congress-JD(S) coalition, hangs in balance with the state assembly Speaker yet to take a call on either their resignations or the two parties’ plea for their disqualification.
BJP sources said the party will be more sure of its next move after Speaker Ramesh Kumar takes a decision or the Supreme Court, which is also hearing a case related to the matter, brings a legal closure to the issue. The party’s central leadership is weighing its options, they said.
The party and senior leadership is mulling over all the options before taking a final call. There is also a view that the BJP should go for fresh assembly polls in the state, seeking a clear majority but many leaders feel that the party should go ahead and stake claim to form the government. As long as the rebel MLAs remain members of the assembly, the BJP will not have a clear majority and some of its leaders apprehend that rushing to form the next government in such a scenario will not be wise.
BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa, who is likely the contender for the top post again, had to resign as chief minister after the 2018 assembly polls as he could not muster a majority after staking claim to form the government on the ground that his party had emerged as the single largest one.
But BJP is in wait and watch mode. And this is why the proposed meeting of BJP legislative party on Wednesday has been postponed without giving any reason, sources said.
