Kumaraswamy rejects BJP’s demand for his resignation

Bengaluru, July 11 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday rejected the opposition BJP's demand for him to quit as his coalition government has been reduced to 'minority' after 16 legislators of the ruling Congress-JD-S submitted their resignations to Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar.

"Why should I resign? What is the necessity?," retorted Kumaraswamy in Kannada when asked amid speculation that he would submit his resignation to state Governor Vajubhai Vala after a cabinet meeting in the afternoon.

Clarifying that he would attend the monsoon session of the state Legislative Assembly beginning here on Friday, Kumaraswamy said how could the Bharatiya Janata Party make such a demand when its former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa did not resign after 18 of his legislators revolted against him in 2008-09.

"You should ask him (Yeddyurappa) why he did not resign after 18 BJP legislators went to the then governor and gave a joint letter withdrawing their support to him," recalled Kumaraswamy.

Ahead of the cabinet meeting, Kumaraswamy met senior Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad, party's state in-charge K.C. Venugopal, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah, party's state president Dinesh Gundu Rao and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on dealing with the crisis gripping their year-old government.

Kumaraswamy's rejection came a day after a BJP delegation, led by Yeddyurappa, on Wednesday petitioned the Governor in Raj Bhavan here seeking the incumbent leader's resignation, as he lost majority and had no moral right to continue as Chief Minister of the coalition government any longer.