Bangalore: It is back to `resort-politics` in
Karnataka as the ruling BJP and the Opposition try to keep
their flock intact ahead of the crucial October 11 confidence
motion as rival parties level allegations of horse-trading
attempts.
The BJP, facing trouble after 18 MLAs withdrew support to
the Yeddyurappa-led government yesterday, has whisked away all
its loyalists to the Golden Palm Spa and Resort on the city
outskirts.
For the BJP rebels, it has also been a case of hopping
from city-to-city -- initially operating out of a star hotel
in Chennai and then moving to Kochi and later to Goa via
Mumbai.
The Congress, on its part, is taking no chances and is
keeping its legislators together in a resort near Devanahally
on the city outskirts.
The JDS, though putting up a brave front that its group
of 28 legislators is like "diamond" and nobody can "cut
them", is keeping a close watch on them and its relative lower
strength in the Assembly is making its task easier, compared
to the BJP and the Congress.
Last year, `resort politics` was on view with Tourism
Minister Janardhana Reddy leading the dissident campaign
against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. However, the high
command stepped in to defuse the crisis.
In the 224-member Assembly, the BJP has a strength of 117
including Speaker,Congress 73, JDS 28, and Independents six.
PTI
