Thursday, January 19 2006 16:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Flaying Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh's decision to seek vote of confidence after eight days on January 27, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Jan 19, 2006) accused the Congress of 'running away from the battle'.

"It (Congress) wanted to postpone the defeat by one week", Naidu told sources, alleging that it would attempt to do some 'dirty tricks' to survive in power but would not succeed.

"If not tomorrow, it (the government) will go on January 27", Naidu said.

Naidu said it was for the first time in history that a government, which had lost majority, was 'running away' from the house for no reason. "He (Singh) should have been bold enough to face the house".

Asked if the time given to Singh to prove his majority was too long, he said if the governor had taken such a decision, the party was not in a position to appreciate the rationale behind it.

Naidu said the assembly was very much in session and the first item on the agenda should have been the trial of strength, for which the BJP and JDS led by Kumaraswamy were prepared.

He said the BJP had sought to impress upon the governor in the morning that giving more time would give scope for manipulation. Naidu said the Congress might try all "dirty tricks but we are confident that they (present government) will be going".