Karnataka CM likely to step down

Bangalore: In another development, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Dharam Singh, may resign soon.

This follows H D Deve Gowda's son H D Kumaraswamy's breaking away from the Janata Dal (Secular) party along with 46 MLAs and staking claim to form an alternative government in Karnataka.

"Today is one of the saddest days in my political career," Deve Gowda told CNN-IBN.

However, experts are skeptical of the fact that Deve Gowda is saddened by this turn of events and by the fact that his son has been the one to cause a split in the party.

They are speculating that the whole drama may be sham -- an act to upstage the Congress.

The relations between the Congress and the JD(S) have been strained ever since the Congress single-handedly swept the Zilla and Taluk panchayat polls.

The JD(S) fared badly in the polls as did the BJP. The two parties have since then been feeling threatened by the strong presence of Congress in the state.

The mood in Delhi is cautious though.

Congress General Secretary, Ambika Soni said such things happen in a coalition government.

"There is a joint session of the legislature in Karnataka on Thursday. There will be a trial of strength then and we are hoping that the Governor will pay heed to Deve Gowda's letter," she said.

The BJP celebrations though have already begun.

Prakash Javadekar, BJP spokesperson stated that the Congress has been reduced to a mere minority in the state.

The Governor of Karnataka, T N Chaturvedi is contemplating taking legal advice to help him come to a decision.

What's clear is though that the JD(S) and the BJP will form the new government in Karnataka come Thursday morning.

On Wednesday morning, H D Deve Gowda's son, H D Kumaraswamy broke away from the Janata Dal (Secular) party along with 51 MLAs and staked claim to form an alternative government in Karnataka.

Seven JD(S) ministers loyal to Kumaraswamy have resigned from the Dharam Singh government.

Kumaraswamy claimed 46 party MLAs have submitted a signed affidavit extending their support to his faction.

Six independents have also joined the faction to take a slice of the power pie.

Adding fuel to the crisis, the BJP has openly declared its suppport to an alternative government under Kumaraswamy.