Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS) 

Bengaluru, Jul 21: The leaders of Congress and JD(S) made frantic efforts to convince the rebel MLAs of both the parties, who have resigned and are camping in Mumbai, to take back their resignations and save the government which is on the brink of collapse during the confidence motion that is scheduled to take place on Monday, July 22. 

The leaders of the coalition have realised that even if they are able to bring back four out of the 15 rebels, they will be able to save the government. Hence all the tactics are being employed in this direction. 

Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda had a discussion of around one hour with senior Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy in his residence. Chief minister (CM) Kumaraswamy was also present during this discussion. Deve Gowda urged Ramalinga Reddy to put in efforts to call back MLAs S T Somashekhar, Muniratna, Bhairati Basavaraj, and Gopaliah, who are camping in Mumbai. It is learnt that Deve Gowda promised Ramalinga Reddy that amicable solution will be found for the issues of the rebel MLAs and asked him to make the rebels attend the Assembly session on Monday, July 22. 

Replying to H D Deve Gowda's request, it is learnt that, Ramalinga Reddy expressed his helplessness saying that he was unable to contact the rebels as they are not picking up the phones. It is said that Congress leaders are mulling of sending Ramalinga Reddy to Mumbai on Sunday, if the situation demands. 

DCM Dr G Parameshwara also had a discussion in this regard with CM Kumaraswamy. Later minister D K Shivakumar also joined them to plan a strategy for the confidence motion on Monday. 

In the meantime, it is learnt that, many Congress MLAs, who were put up in Hotel Taj Vivant in the city from the resort, objected to their confinement to the hotel and have left for their constituencies saying that they will be with the party and those who want to quit the party, will quit at any cost. Now there are only 20 to 25 MLAs left in the hotel, as per the sources. 

State BJP leaders are also facing anxious moments. They have planned strategy to keep the rebel MLAs away from the contact of the Congress leaders and also see that BJP legislators are not pulled by the coalition partners. Opposition leader and state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa paid a visit to the resort, where the BJP MLAs are put up, even on Saturday, to make sure that everything is going as per their plan. As CM Kumaraswamy himself has decided to move the confidence motion on Monday, the BJP has decided to wait and watch till that time. 

Though CM Kumaraswamy has told that he will seek the confidence votes on Monday, the Congress leaders are eyeing on the appeals submitted to the Supreme Court by the CM on the interference of the Governor in the proceedings of the Assembly as well as the violation of whip by the rebel MLAs. The Congress leaders believe that the Supreme Court will take both the appeals for inquiry on Monday. 

It is curious to note that though the leaders of the Congress party have submitted an appeal to the court regarding the violation of the whip, they have not pressurized the court to take up the inquiry of the same on an urgent basis. In 2018, when the Governor had given 15 days time to BJP to prove their majority, the Congress party had opposed the same and had knocked on the Supreme Court and got the decision to get the confidence motion moved within 24 hours. However, this time around, it seems the party is not in a hurry. 

It is also said that the coalition partners have planned to stretch the Assembly session till the evening of Monday citing the Supreme Court inquiry as to the reason.