JD-S ready to face fresh poll: Kumaraswamy

He launched a sharp attack on BJP after its ministers resigned en masse earlier this evening, terming the decision as “unwarranted and in haste”.

The three-hour meeting of JD-S legislature party, chaired by Kumaraswamy, unanimously decided to leave the power transfer issue to the October five Parliamentary Affairs Committee meeting to be held in Delhi.

“The legislators will be bound by whatever decision the PAC takes and we are one on this”, he said.

“There was no need for BJP ministers to resign. I never refused to quit. They acted in haste,” Kumaraswamy said and warned BJP that it will have to own responsibility for the consequences, if any, on the future of the government.

The BJP “complicated” what would have been a smooth transfer of power to it had that party “maintained patience”, Kumaraswamy said indicating handing over power to the saffron party would not be an easy affair now.

“It is not in my mind to resign now,” Kumaraswamy said and declared he will try to save his government but refused to divulge his plans.

The manner in which BJP behaved in the last two days has brought down the level of confidence and trust between the parties and that party was found wanting in reposing trust in him, he said.

Responding to a query whether BJP was indulging in blackmail politics, Kumaraswamy said “I will leave it to the people’s decision”.

Asked why he reneged on his promise on power transfer, he shot back “I have not reneged my promise. When BJP ministers led by B S Yediyurappa met me, I asked them to wait till October five”.

JD-S state unit president Merajuddin Patel said Kumaraswamy offerred to quit at the meeting but legislators asked him not to do so.

However, Kumaraswamy denied that such an issue came up for debate at the meeting.