Power sharing pact not negotiable: BJP

The countdown has begun for the end of the BJP-JDS coalition in Karnataka...

The countdown has begun for the end of the BJP-JDS coalition in Karnataka, which has been sharing power for the past 20 months. With JDS refusing to hand over power and both declaring that they were willing to face an election, it is only a matter of time before the two part ways.

The Political Affairs Committee PAC of the JDS will meet on Friday and the BJP Parliamentary Board will meet again on Saturday to take the final call on the alliance.

After a meeting of its Parliamentary Board on Thursday, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said: 8220;The power sharing agreement is non-negotiable and the Parliamentary Board has emphasised that B S Yediurappa is our candidate for the Chief Minister8217;s post. That is also non-negotiable. This will be conveyed to Deve Gowda as and when he meets the central leadership.8221;

Asked whether the BJP will have a Chief Minister at all, given the acrimony that has developed between the allies, Sinha said: 8220;Nothing definite can be said about the continuance of the alliance until Deve Gowda and the BJP president meet.8221;

But within minutes of the BJP statement, a JDS spokesperson said, 8220;a meeting between Deve Gowda and the BJP chief is doubtful.8221;

Danish Ali, spokesperson of the JDS, said the 8220;decision of the political affairs committee PAC will be conveyed to the BJP leadership.8221;

Sinha asserted that the BJP has adhered to the power-sharing pact and the party would not allow any changes in the power-sharing pact.

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Asked about Kumaraswamy8217;s statement that his party was ready to face elections, he said: 8220;8230;it is entirely up to them. If Deve Gowda were to say that this is our view and therefore nothing further needs to be discussed with BJP leadership, then the Parliamentary Board on October 6 will take an appropriate decision8221;.

Sinha said the BJP has no plans to engineer a split in any other party to form a Government. He said the meeting also took note of reports that JDS was holding parleys with the Congress.

8220;We have moved in the matter with great deal of circumspection, great deal of forethought and great deal of dignity. You cannot say that the BJP has acted in any undignified manner,8221; he said in reply to a question.