Parrikar meets Karnataka dissidents MLAs, says crisis will be solved by Saturday

PANAJI - Former Goa Chief Minsiter and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manohar Parrikar met Karnataka dissidents MLAs here on Friday and exuded confidence about the crisis being solved in the state by Saturday.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Parrikar said: “I met everyone, including Independents and discussed their grievances. It is a dispute within the party and it will be resolved by tomorrow.”

Parrikar said: “The legislators have no demands but “certain issues” which can be solved at the party forum.

“I am heading the Good Governance cell and its my responsibility that BJP governments work smoothly,” he added.

Karnataka’s Excise Minister M P Renukacharya was among the legislators who held talks with Parrikar.

Last night, the Taj Exotica Resort at Benaulim was turned into a fortress after 15 MLAs, including nine from BJP, checked into it.

Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy also arrived at the resort where Karnataka rebels MLAs were camping.

Kumaraswamy’s appearance created a near-volatile situation after angry BJP workers gheraoed his car and roughed up his aide.

The BJP claimed that Karnataka’s Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy, who had come to hold talks with rebels MLAs, was not allowed to meet them by Congress leaders, including Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik.

“Our MLAs are kept under house arrest. This is very bad. The whole country is watching the development,” said Janardhan Reddy.

Karnataka Government plunged into crisis after 14 BJP and five Independent MLAs withdrew support to it, prompting State Governor H R Bharadwaj to ask Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to seek a trust vote by October 12.

Despite the crisis, a confident Yeddyurappa said he would prove his majority in the House by October 11, a day ahead of the Governor’s deadline.

“I talked to the Governor… the House will meet on October 11… the MLAs who have gone out of town will be back soon. I am confident of proving majority, ” said Yeddyurappa.

In the 224-member Assembly, BJP and Independents together have a strength of 123 members. With Wednesday’s developments it has been reduced to 104 members. The BJP now requires the support of 113 members to prove its majority.

The BJP earlier had 117 MLAs including the Speaker, followed by Congress 73, JDS 28 and independents six. (ANI)