Even on a day ahead of the crucial trust vote in the Assembly, the topsy-turvy relation between the coalition partners continued on Sunday as JD(S) decided to put on hold its decision on continuing support to BJP-led government in Karnataka.
The JD(S) refusal to take a final call on the issue of continuing its support to the week-long government headed by BS Yeddyurappa came in the wake of failure of talks between the chief minister and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy over signing a 12-point ?MoU?.
Despite serious differences over the so called MoU, which JD(S) is insisting with BJP to agree, the coalition partners indicated that they would continue engage themselves sort out differences before the trust vote.
As per the present positions, JD(S) has been insisting on fresh conditions to ensure that its secular image is not dented, whereas the BJP, on its part, rejected its partner?s demand to sign the pact stating that it did not form part of the ?common minimum programme? agreed 20-months ago.
BJP sources said, ?We think, BJP is very clear. It will not sign the MoU, because it is not a common minimum programme (CMP).? Even Central leadership has sent a clear message to Yeddyurappa and its state unit not to budge. ?Fresh conditions before the trust vote is not acceptable to us. Suggestions are welcomed, but those too can be discussed and accepted only after the government wins the trust vote,? a senior central leader said here.
?Whatever was agreed to earlier when JDS-BJP formed the coalition government in 2006 will remain valid for this government led by BJP,? the leader added
JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda had written a letter to BJP president Rajnath Singh along with the MoU. Sources in the state unit contended that ?the MoU is with our party president and we have no communication from our central leadership on the issue.?
?Since JD(S) has not communicated to us anything like that, so there is no question of discussing with them on the issue,? the sources said.
The draft of the MoU, circulated by the JDS, states that the post of deputy chief minister should go to the JD(S) nominee and portfolios of ministries should be decided in consultation with Kumaraswamy.
