Saturday, January 21 2006 14:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs of Karnataka brought to the city last night, exuded confidence today of forming the next government in Karnataka along with the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rebel faction led by H D Kumarasamy.

'I am teling you we are going to form the government. There is no doubt at all because we are having sufficient numbers', BJP MLA from Karnataka H D Basawaraj told newsmen at a city hotel, where some of the 70 MLAs brought from that state here last night were lodged.

When asked about the possibility of MLAs being bought over, he said the "MLAs 'are united and stand united. We are confident of getting a majority.". He claimed that the Dharam Singh Ministry would be reduced to a minority in the trial of strength on the floor of the house.

To another question, Basawaraj, who represents the tribal area of Kodagur in Karnataka, said all the BJP MLAs were here and were expected to remain in the city for one or two more days. "We do not know how long they (BJP) will keep us here". Fearing that Congress would try to split the party in the state, BJP last night had brought 70 of its MLAs from there and lodged them in two city hotels.

The MLAs arrived here shortly after 10.00 PM by a private airlines special flight.

The political developments in that state were triggered after the JDS rebel faction led by H D Kumaraswamy withdrew support to the Dharam Singh government and staked claim to form a new government with the saffron party support.