The netas have put on their thinking caps and day in and day out they seem to be planning their strategy to face the poll, which is round the corner in Karnataka.
The cabinet is expected to finalise the date for a special legislative session later this month. Sources in the Janata Dal Secular said that the session will be held after October 15 to dissolve the Assembly and declare elections in the state.
Congress has adopted a wait-and-watch mode in Karnataka in spite of reports suggesting that it might extend outside support to the JDS if the latter severed links with the BJP. The final decision will be taken by Sonia Gandhi when she comes back.
But any speculation that Hyderabad, which has emerged as a hub of IT industry in a relatively short span of time, might stand to gain, might be premature.
Who do you think is right? Will Murthy's resignation adversely affect Bangalore's development? Or is Deve Gowda's claims correct? Or is it a matter of development versus petty politics? Tell us.
Making it clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party is no mood to buckle under pressure from the Janata Dal-Secular, a senior BJP leader made it clear that he will not hold talks with JD-S supremo H D Deve Gowda.
There seems to be a wave of uncertainity in the state of Karnataka on whether JD-S will hand over power to its coalition partner, the BJP on October 3.
Minor explosions occurred in the office buildings of the Janata Dal Secular and Congress parties in Bangalore on Friday evening, police said on Saturday. \n
Terming his ouster by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda as an "act of vendetta and undemocractic," sacked Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Saturday, categorically ruled out joining any party, including the Congress.
According to party sources, Ganesh's entry was cleared after he met Gowda at his residence along with former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin on Monday.
It was a black Monday as a Janata Dal-Secular rally in Bengaluru wrecked havoc for motorists on the streets. People were stranded on the streets for over five hours thanks to the JD-S convention which was held at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Monday.
Eighteen ministers inducted were of cabinet rank, nine each from the Congress and JD(S). Two JD (S) members joined as ministers of state.\n
'The non-biological PM's capacity for malice, mischief, and maligning of history knows no bounds. It was on full display today from the Red Fort'
A day after he defied the party whip and voted in favour of the United Progressive Alliance government's confidence motion, Janata Dal-Secular MP Shivanna was on Wednesday expelled from the party. JD-S secretary general Danish Ali told PTI that steps have been initiated to disqualify him from the Lok Sabha and a letter was being sent to the speaker in this regard.
'My party has taken the decision to vote against the motion of no-confidence and it remains unchanged. The nuclear deal is not the reflection of the nation's mood. It does not represent the people's wish,' he said.
'Ideally, Gowda should ask for a Cabinet berth in the Union government. This would help us build the party and a tie-up for us with the Congress is always good, keeping in mind the forthcoming elections.' says Janata Dal-S MP Shivanna.
Even as Janata Dal-Secular leader Veerendrakumar says that he will vote against the United Progressive Alliance in the trust vote even if a whip to support the motion is issued, the JD-S camp in Bengaluru maintains that the party is united and there will be no difference of opinion.
The incident led to a political confrontation between the government and Opposition in the state.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday appeared to be warming up to the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying that "a new chapter has to begin to control looters" as he targeted the Congress government alleging corruption.
The first Karnataka legislative assembly session, after the formation of the new government will be held on starting Monday next week in Bengaluru.
The process of ministry expansion in Karnataka has run into rough weather following differences between the two coalition partners, the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular, over the allocation of plum portfolios
Former leader of the Janata Dal-Secular M P Prakash will officially be a Congressman on February 27. He will be formally inducted into the party at a Youth Congress rally to be held in Bangalore, which will be presided over by Rahul Gandhi.
Gowda said the campaign will be held in three phases and he will be participate in all three. He also said that a national executive committee meeting of the party will be held in February to take stock of the developments.
'Blanket protection to MLAs, who are driven not by ideology but by far baser concerns, is unheard-of'
The Janata Dal-Secular on Thursday petitioned Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, seeking his intervention recommending a CBI probe into the sexual abuse charges against Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna.
The former chief minister says he will start campaigning for his party in another 15 days, although the doctors have advised a month's rest.
The faction led by Prakash, which had cut off ties with the JD-S after citing differences with party chief H D Deve Gowda and his sons, will hold a meeting on Thursday to decide on the next course of action.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he said, he is not giving priority to such things and was concentrating on strengthening the party.
PGR Scindia, a veteran who had spent over 10 years in the JD-S follows senior leader MP Prakash and quits the party.
H D Deve Gowda and his sons did everything in the book to prevent Prakash from leaving the party. However, their attempts were unsuccessful and Prakash stuck to his guns.
In his plea, Gowda seeks an order restraining the producer of the film from making derogatory remarks against him and his family.
"The split will have no impact on the party. Alternative arrangements are being made to head the party in places where some of our party leaders resigned", he said.
It was a decision waiting to be taken officially. Senior Janata Dal-Secular leader M P Prakash on Wednesday quit the party.
While all political parties in Karnataka have entered into poll mode, the Janata Dal-Secular, a key player is yet to sort out plenty of problems with the rebels in the party getting more rebellious.
He rubbished claims that Kumaraswamy was set to leave the JD-S and said that the JD-S would soon begin its election campaign.
The petition was filed by a few independent legislators in which they sought the disqualification of the JDS legislators after they entered into an alliance with the BJP 21 months back and formed the government without the approval of the party high command.
Revanna has decided to stand by Gowda in the hour of crisis.
Dharam Singh expressed confidence that he will prove his majority on January 27, as asked by the Governor.