If there was one man who was responsible for pivotal role that the Left parties played on the national stage from 1989 to 2008, it was Harkishen Singh Surjeet, who passed into the ages on August 1. He was 92.
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was summoned by Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Monday and asked to explain his stand about the ongoing political crisis. During the hour-long meeting with the chief minister, the governor asked Kumaraswamy to make his stance clear. Thakur also wanted to know the Janata Dal Secular's next course of action. Kumaraswamy sought time till October 18, so that he could prove his majority in the Legislative Assmebly after a trust vote.
"We will go to the people's court," said Kumaraswamy while dropping broad hints about dumping coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party on the eve of crucial meetings in Delhi which will decide the fate of the 20-month-old coalition government. He unleashed a scathing attack on the BJP leadership for remaining mute spectators to the 'character assassination campaign' by the party's Bellary unit leaders.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy is reported to have told his legislators about his intention to resign from the post of chief minister. However, the MLAs were united in their stand and urged him not to step down.