Kumaraswamy resigns as Karnataka Chief Minister (Lead: Karnataka)

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today resigned after Congress made it clear that it would not support the JD (S) Government in the State.

Bangalore, Oct 8 : Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today resigned after Congress made it clear that it would not support the JD (S) Government in the State.

He met Governor Rameshwar Thakur at the Raj Bhavan after his party's meeting in the evening and submitted him the resignation letter.

Unable to prove that he had the required numbers to prove his majority on the floor, Kumaraswamy was earlier advised by the Governor to submit his resignation paper.

The latest development makes the reconvening of the State Assembly on October 18 for the floor test redundant.

Meanwhile, the Congress has demanded imposition of President's rule in the State.

The BJP, which formally pulled out from the coalition on Sunday, however, wants the Assembly to be dissolved and holding of fresh elections in the State, similar to what the JD (S) is also saying.

Congress has 65 members in the legislative Assembly, excluding the eight other members led by former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who broke away from the JD (S) to join Congress.

The party has the second highest number of seats in the 225-member State Assembly with the BJP being the single largest party in the State with 79 MLAs.

Kumaraswamy led JD (S) has officially 57 members in the legislature, but its strength is down to 48 after Siddaramaiah's defection, and requires support of another 65 members to reach the simple majority figure of 113 in the State Assembly. However, support from smaller parties and independents, if Kumaraswamy is able to garner it, only add to 17.

ANI