Uncertainty over the survival of B.S. Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka ended on Sunday with 11 rebel BJP MLAs, whose disqualification from the Assembly was struck down by the Supreme Court, extending "unconditional support" to the chief minister.
The MLAs, who have been camping in Delhi for the past couple of days, shot off a letter to governor H.R. Bhardwaj conveying their decision to support the BJP government in the state.
"There has been a lot of speculation both in the electronic and the print media regarding the support of the undersigned legislators to the BJP government led by B.S. Yeddyurappa.
"We wish to put to rest all such speculation and we hereby confirm that we continue to be MLAs of the BJP and we extend unqualified support to the government led by B.S. Yeddyurappa," the rebel MLAs said in their letter while withdrawing their earlier communication revolting against the chief minister.
At a press conference held around noon today, Karnataka government representative Dhananjay Kumar displayed copies of the relevant faxes sent to the governor.
He said there was no threat to the Yeddyurappa government, claiming that the party enjoyed clear majority in the House.
"Ten BJP MLAs and four Independents who are in the national capital have now issued separate letters of support extending their unconditional support to Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka," Kumar said.
He said: "Similarly one Independent MLA who is in Bengaluru has also sent his letter extending unconditional support to the BJP government."
Party sources said the MLAs are planning to meet the governor and handover individual letters of support to the Yeddyurappa government.
The BJP government faced a crisis after the Supreme Court on Friday quashed the disqualification of 11 rebel BJP MLAs and five independents by the Speaker in October, 2010.
"There is no crisis in BJP. Our strength has now swelled from 109 to 120. Yeddyurappa government enjoys clear majority (in the 224 Assembly)," he said.
The BJP government had won a second trust vote on October 14, 2010 by a narrow margin after the governor gave a second chance to the chief minister to prove his majoirty on the floor of the house. The 11 BJP and 5 independent MLAs were not allowed to vote then.
In Bengaluru, a relieved Yeddyurappa said he had absolute majority in the House. He said though there is no need for a trust vote, "if the governor wants it, I am duty bound to oblige him".
Earlier in the day, Bhardwaj, who met Prime Minister Manmohan on Saturday, kept the pressure on saying he would seek expert opinion on whether a floor test is necessary.
Bharadwaj had on Saturday said the verdict was astricture against the chief minister and the Speaker amid a strident demand by opposition Congress and JD(S) for dismissal of the state government on the ground that it had lost majority.
Asked whether he would ask the BJP government to go for a floor test, he said: "Floor tests have not helped Karnataka. It was destroyed by manipulation."
"I have to seek comments," he said in reply to a question whether he thought a fresh floor test was necessary.
He said the government has to function by adhering to norms laid down by the Constitution.
The letter extending support to Yeddyurappa was signed by Balachandra Jarkiholi, Sarvabhouma Bagali, Shivanagowda Naik, Anand Asnotikal, Y Sampangi, B A Kage, S K Bellubbi, B Gopalakrishna, Nanjundaswamy, M V Nagaraju and Shankaralingegowda.
In Bangalore, Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah declined to react to the critical observations made against him by Supreme Court while quashing his order disqualifying 11 BJP and five independent MLAs.
"No comments. I have no comments. I don't want to comment," he told reporters here when asked for his reaction to the strictures passed against him by the Supreme Court.
He also refused to answer another question about governor H.R. Bhardwaj's comment that the Speaker did not follow his advise not to alter the strength of the house during the vote of confidence taken by Yeddyurappa after the 16 MLAs withdrew support to his government.