Saturday, January 28 2006 17:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Capping 10 days of political upheaval in Karnataka, Janata Dal (JD) Secular (S) rebel leader H D Kumaraswamy was today invited to form a Government after Chief Minister N Dharam Singh resigned failing to secure more time as a second chance to pass the floor test in the Assembly.

In another day of mercurial developments after the assembly was adjourned sine die yesterday without Chief Minister obtaining the vote of confidence, Singh was summoned by Governor and shortly thereafter, his resignation letter followed and then the invitation to Kumaraswamy, son of JDS supremo, whose moves saw the end of Congress-JDS ministry.



With no hopes left in the legislative arithmetic that was loaded in favour of the JDS rebel, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine, Singh was also told by the governor that he could not be given another chance to seek vote of confidence because of 'technical reasons', thus leaving the only option of exit for the Chief Minister.

After a clear message from the governor, Singh lost no time in announcing his decision to step down and sent his resignation letter to the governor, who promptly invited Kumaraswamy to form the government 'at the earliest', which he would do with BJP, and gave him eight days to prove majority.

It is a dramatic political rise for 46-year old Kumaraswamy, reticent but known for his political skills despite being in politics just for a decade as exemplified in his actions that toppled the Dharam Singh government. For the BJP too, it would mean of long cherished dream of ruling a state in the South, albeit with a coalition partner.