Friday, August 5 2005 12:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh today (August 5, 2005) confirmed he has received a letter from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) asking for removal of Deputy Chief Minister and rebel leader Siddaramaiah and two ministers loyal to him from the ministry.

"The letter has come. I will see," Singh told reporters when asked if he has received the JDS missive seeking dismissal of Siddaramaiah and ministers H C Mahadevappa and Satish Jharkhihole.

"We have to see" was all Singh was willing to say to a query as to when he would recommend their dismissal to the Governor. He also evaded a reply to reports that Jharkhihole has already resigned.

JDS has been asking Siddaramaiah and two ministers loyal to him to quit but the Chief Minister has, for the first time, officially confirmed that he has indeed received the letter from the Congress' ruling coalition partner.

Siddaramaiah, who was ousted as JDS Legislature Party (JDSLP) leader and replaced by senior JDS leader M P Prakash yesterday (August 4, 2005), has been repeatedly refusing to step down, maintaining the JDSLP meet convened by the Deve Gowda camp was illegal.

"I hope the Chief Minister will not take such a decision," Siddaramaiah said, after he deferred the parallel JDSLP meet called by him due to lack of quorum last night (August 4, 2005), when he was asked by reporters about the Gowda camp's moves to get him sacked.