More Karnataka MLAs will resign soon, says BJP

Bengaluru: The sudden political coup in the state has surprised many, including senior BJP leaders, with only former chief minister B.S.Yeddyurappa and his team quietly jubilant after its many unsuccessful attempts to pull the government down.  “Another batch of MLAs will resign soon, but we will not disclose who they are,” said a top source in the BJP camp.  “By Monday or Tuesday, the picture will be clear,”  sources maintained.

The great majority of senior BJP leaders told this newspaper, however, that they were taken completely by surprise with the resignation of veteran Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy and three Congress MLAs of Bengaluru who are seen as close to former chief minister Siddaramaiah.

“We had expected the resignation of rebel Congress MLAs, Anand Singh,Nagendra, Kampli Ganesh, Mahesh Kumtalli, Ramesh Jarakiholi and others, but the resignation of other Congress MLAs who are not in the BJP list of ‘Operation Lotus’ was a complete surprise”, said a senior BJP leader. But sources in the B.S. Yeddyurappa camp say they not only expected it, but say that more resignations are coming. “We expected the resignation of Congress and JD(S)  MLAs, but let me tell you, another five MLAs will resign by Monday or Tuesday.” Sources further said, that unlike in the past, this Operation Lotus, was executed in complete secrecy.