Karnataka crisis: BJP ministers resign en masse

All the BJP ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, today handed over their resignation from the JD (S)-led coalition Government in the State to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Bangalore, Oct 2 : All the BJP ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, today handed over their resignation from the JD (S)-led coalition Government in the State to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

The BJP's decision to resign en masse from the Kumaraswamy Cabinet comes after the talks between the BJP and the JD (S) failed on the power transfer issue.

According to the pact reached between the two parties twenty months ago, the JD (S) is supposed to transfer the office of Chief Minister to the BJP on October 3.

Kumaraswamy has been stating off and on that he will shed the office on Wednesday, and has asked the BJP to wait till October 5 when the political affairs committee of the JD (S) would meet to discuss on the issue.

The JD(S) supremo, former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, had been evasive about the transfer. The JD(S) has refused to honour the BJP's "this evening" deadline to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to step down so that a smooth transfer of power could take place.

ANI