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BJP to support Congress motion against Patel

The Bharatiya Janata Party today declared that it is determined to defeat the Janata Dal government in Karnataka in the assembly, saying the government is "week, meek and useless".

The BJP and the Congress today moved two separate motions in the state assembly expressing lack of confidence in the government headed by Jayadevappa Halappa Patel.

Even if the Congress motion is given priority, the BJP will support it, party general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu said. The Karnataka government has ceased to function, he added.

But the government is unlikely to fall unless the dissidents within the Janata Dal also vote against it.

The Dal has 112 members in a house of 225. The Congress has 44 members and the BJP 38. Fifteen are independents, one is a nominated member. One seat is vacant. The rest belong to several smaller, mainly regional parties.

Asked to comment on Union Commerce Minister and Lok Shakti president Ramakrishna Hegde's reported statement that the BJP would stand by Chief Minister Patel, Naidu said he was unaware of it.

Asked if Hegde had consulted the BJP leadership on the issue, he said he did not know.

Hegde, who is now the BJP's ally in Karnataka, was earlier in the Janata Dal and served as chief minister of Karnataka from 1983 to 1989. Patel is thought to be close to him.

While Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge gave notice of the Congress motion, the BJP's motion was moved by K S Eshwarappa, leader of the party in the assembly.

Members of both parties stood up seeking leave of the house for the motions.

Speaker Ramesh Kumar said a date for discussing the motion would be fixed after consulting the business advisory committee.

UNI

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