Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jul 14: As the future of Congress-JD (S) coalition government in the state is reaching the deciding point, BJP is also taking cautious steps to hold on to the magic number. At present BJP has 107 MLAs, including the two independent MLAs, who have pledged their support to the saffron party and it is putting in efforts to reduce the number of supporters in the coalition.

BJP is also making sure that the sudden political developments, rumours that make rounds in relation to such developments does not make any impact on the stand of the MLAs of Congress and JD (S), who have resigned and are residing in Mumbai. Through this, the sources say, the BJP is trying to defeat the confidence motion that is moved by the chief minister.

State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa

After Congress managed to convince M T B Nagaraj, one of the MLAs, who had resigned, to take back his resignation, BJP is now giving emphasis on keeping their flock intact.

At present, along with the support of two independent MLAs, the strength of BJP has gone up to 107. Rumours are making rounds that four more MLAs are going to quit the coalition. If this development takes place, then the numbers of BJP will be well above the required 'Magic Number'.

State BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, asked the legislators of his party, who are put up in a resort in the city to be patient and wait for the occasion. Sources have confirmed that Yeddyurappa in his speech to the BJP MLAs said, "All the MLAs should be united throughout the Assembly session. If an environment, in which the government is not able to go for the confidence motion is created, then the accusation will unnecessarily fall on the BJP party leaders. They will instigate the public in the name of 'Operation Lotus' and accuse Prime Minister Modi and national president Amit Shah of hatching the plot. But we should not lose our temper for all these provocations. If the BJP MLAs start to react, there is a possibility that MLAs will be suspended and thereby our numbers will go down. So everyone has to behave in an alert and responsible manner."

The sources in BJP are saying that Mukul Rohtagi, senior advocate of Supreme Court, who is arguing the case of the disgruntled MLAs, who have resigned, has made it very clear to the rebel MLAs that there is no question of their disqualification. So the BJP is firm that these MLAs will not make a U-turn on their stand.

The BJP MLAs have denied the rumors that they will resign and join Congress or JD(S). BJP MLAs Raju Gowda, Poornima Srinivas, Niranjan, Somana Gowda, Kumaraswamy, Goolihatti Shekhar and Basavaraj Jadesoor, who are residing in Ramada resort in the city spoke to the press on Saturday in this regard and said, "There is no question of anyone of us joining Congress or JD (S). BJP is our strength. This party has given us leadership. We will not lay foundation to the dirty tradition of resigning."