After days of uncertainty, hectic lobbying and political flip-flops, the government on Thursday decided to revoke President?s rule in Karnataka. The end of stalemate means BJP?s debut in South.

Former deputy chief minister BS Yedyurappa will be the next chief minister, provided no fresh issues are raked up between the BJP and the JD(S) and the Governor extends him an invitation based on the letters of support given by the 129 MLAs.

The Union Cabinet on Thursday took the decision two days after Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur submitted his ?final? report on the BJP-JDS demand for invitation to form the government. ?After considering the report and taking into account all facts and circumstances, the Cabinet has decided to recommend to the President that the President?s rule may be revoked,? finance minister P Chidambaram told reporters here. He added that Thakur might be advised to invite BJP-JD(S) legislature party leader Yeddyurappa to form the government.

That there could still be a slip between the cup and the lip, however, was indicated when former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy followed on the footsteps of his father and tried to play tough. Even before the BJP-JD(S) has been formally invited by the governor, Kumaraswamy asked the BJP to accept conditions put forward by his father. ?If BJP take?s my father?s strength lightly, then this government will not last long? he said. The JD(S) leader told reporters in Bangalore that there was a need ?to discuss several issues? before Yedyurappa took oath as chief minister.

Though welcoming the Centre?s move, the BJP in its reaction here, said the step lacked ?grace? because it came after ?inordinate and unnecessary? delay. It hoped the Governor would immediately invite Yeddyurappa for formation of the government. ?It is a historic day because the BJP is getting an opportunity to form its government in South India, especially in the politically important state of Karnataka,? party vice-president Yashwant Sinha said.

Sinha, who is in charge of the state, sought to downplay fresh irritants in the BJP-JDS combine and said the coalition government will work for the welfare of Karnataka and make its capital a world-class city.

Asked about the flipflop by JD-S led by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, he said the coalition will learn lessons from the past experience and pointed out that JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has made it clear that its support to BJP is unconditional.