BJP government in Karnataka under threat

The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka is in crisis.

Sources say that 8-10 Members of the Legislative Assembly from the party are set to quit, thus reducing the BS Yeddyurappa-led government to a minority.

Around 20 rebels, who were ignored in the recent cabinet reshuffle, are camping in a resort in Chennai and sources say negotiations have yielded no results so far.

Meanwhile, there is hectic activity on inside Raj Bhavan at the moment with rebel BJP leader Shankar Linge Gowda stating that nearly 8 MLAs will quit any moment.

If the eight MLAs resign, the government will fall short of the magic number of 113.

To add to the BJP's misery, former chief minister and Janata Dal-Secular supremo H D Kumaraswamy is also meeting Governor HR Bhardwaj. The JD-S says that in case the BJP is reduced to a minority, then the JD-S is willing to come forward and form the government.

They say that the first choice should be given to the JD-S in case of any eventuality.

Meanwhile, the JD-S and Shankar Linge Gowda will urge the Governor to direct the chief minister to undergo a floor test.

Yeddyurappa's emissaries, R Ashok and Shriramulu, are still in Chennai. Although they have not been able to convince the rebels as yet, Ashok will return to Bengaluru later in the day with the list of demands made by the rebels. He would then hold discussions with the chief minister and revert to the rebels.