K’TAKA CONG ISSUES WHIP

NEW DELHI: The Karnataka Congress on Tuesday attempted to thwart alleged efforts to derail the coalition government it has with the Janata Dal (Secular) by issuing a whip asking its legislators to not just be present for the Budget session, which will begin Wednesday, but to also vote in favour of the finance bill.

CM Kumaraswamy is set to present the budget on Friday, and the session is set to last till February 15. The coalition has had a turbulent eight months in power, with constant speculation of some of its MLAS being keen to defect to the BJP. The absence last month of four rebel Congress MLAS from a legislature party meeting called by former chief minister and CLP chief Siddaramaiah had only heightened the speculation. The four legislators had been issued show cause notices by Siddaramaiah and though they replied, leaders of the Congress admit that it is highly likely that the four are ready to jump ship.