Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jan 15: The ruling coalition of JD(S) and Congress have suffered a set back in Karnataka after two MLAs who were supporting the government withdrew their backing.

It is learnt that H Nagesh and R Shankar have called it quits and are no more with the coalition government.

Their withdrawal means the coalition government is down to a strength of 116 MLAs now.

R Shankar (L) and H Nagesh

Speaking to media, Nagesh said, "My support to coalition govt was to provide good and stable govt which utterly failed. There is is no understanding among coalition partners. So, I decided to go with BJP to install stable government and see that government performs better than the coalition."

Shankar said, "Today is Makar Sankranti, on this day we want a change in the government. The government should be efficient, so I am withdrawing my support (to the Karnataka government) today."

R Shankar, a Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) MLA from Ranebennur, and H Nagesh, an independent from Mulbagal had supported the coalition government last year.