NEW DELHI: Demanding the immediate resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, a delegation of Karnataka opposition leaders met Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Sunday.
In their meeting, the delegation, headed by Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka Assembly , Siddaramaiah, said that Yeddyurappa had morally and legally 'lost the right' to continue in office.
"We met honorable Minister for Finance in a delegation to submit a memorandum and we also explained the political situation in Karnataka that Yedyurappa's government morally, legally has lost the right to continue in the office," Siddaramaiah said.
Karnataka's simmering row has been boiling over since the past few weeks, with no end in sight to the political tussle between the state-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and state opposition over state governor Hansraj Bhardwaj's recent report recommending President's rule in the state.
Bhardwaj's report had come in the wake of the Supreme Court, reversing the Karnataka High Court's decision of disqualifying 11 BJP rebel legislators and five independents, ahead of a trust vote in the Assembly.
The Supreme Court's ruling created a storm in Karnataka, leading several political analysts to suggest the government headed by Yeddyurappa could even face a huge loss in its majority in the state assembly.
However, soon after, 10 rebel legislators extended their unconditional support to the BJP government, following which Bhardwaj recommended the imposition of President's rule in the state, sending shockwaves in the party fold.
Siddaramaiah also said that Yeddyurappa won the vote of confidence in 2010 by political manipulation, a practice that was morally incorrect.
"The judgment of the Supreme Court recently delivered on the 13th of this month clearly states that the speaker and the chief minister of Karnataka they colluded in order to keep away 16 MLAs from participating in the vote of confidence motion meeting. By manipulation they could able to win the vote of confidence motion and their government has survived," he said.
In 2010, the legislators' rebellion had reduced the Yeddyurappa ministry to a minority in the 225-member Assembly, and Bhardwaj had ordered the chief minister to seek trust vote.
Out of the 16 legislators, 11 belonged to the BJP, and were disqualified on the basis of a complaint filed by Yeddyurappa on October 7, 2010.
The legislators had written identical letters to Bhardwaj on October 6, 2010, indicating that though they had been elected on BJP tickets, they had become 'disillusioned' with the functioning of the government headed by Yeddyurappa.
In their meeting, the delegation, headed by Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka Assembly , Siddaramaiah, said that Yeddyurappa had morally and legally 'lost the right' to continue in office.
"We met honorable Minister for Finance in a delegation to submit a memorandum and we also explained the political situation in Karnataka that Yedyurappa's government morally, legally has lost the right to continue in the office," Siddaramaiah said.
Karnataka's simmering row has been boiling over since the past few weeks, with no end in sight to the political tussle between the state-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and state opposition over state governor Hansraj Bhardwaj's recent report recommending President's rule in the state.
Bhardwaj's report had come in the wake of the Supreme Court, reversing the Karnataka High Court's decision of disqualifying 11 BJP rebel legislators and five independents, ahead of a trust vote in the Assembly.
The Supreme Court's ruling created a storm in Karnataka, leading several political analysts to suggest the government headed by Yeddyurappa could even face a huge loss in its majority in the state assembly.
However, soon after, 10 rebel legislators extended their unconditional support to the BJP government, following which Bhardwaj recommended the imposition of President's rule in the state, sending shockwaves in the party fold.
Siddaramaiah also said that Yeddyurappa won the vote of confidence in 2010 by political manipulation, a practice that was morally incorrect.
"The judgment of the Supreme Court recently delivered on the 13th of this month clearly states that the speaker and the chief minister of Karnataka they colluded in order to keep away 16 MLAs from participating in the vote of confidence motion meeting. By manipulation they could able to win the vote of confidence motion and their government has survived," he said.
In 2010, the legislators' rebellion had reduced the Yeddyurappa ministry to a minority in the 225-member Assembly, and Bhardwaj had ordered the chief minister to seek trust vote.
Out of the 16 legislators, 11 belonged to the BJP, and were disqualified on the basis of a complaint filed by Yeddyurappa on October 7, 2010.
The legislators had written identical letters to Bhardwaj on October 6, 2010, indicating that though they had been elected on BJP tickets, they had become 'disillusioned' with the functioning of the government headed by Yeddyurappa.
