Karnataka BHARTIYA JANTA PARTY (BJP) president BS Yeddyurappa has not given up efforts to become chief minister again. On Friday, the Lingayat strongman claimed his party will come to power with the help of disgruntled Congress MLAs after results for the Lok Sabha elections are declared on May 23. BS Yeddyurappa claimed as many as 20 Congress MLAs, who are unhappy with the way the JD(S)-Congress coalition government is functioning, are ready to switch sides to the BJP.

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“We are 104 MLAs now and after the two assembly bypolls, the number will go up to 106. Another 20 Congress MLAs will also join us,” Yeddyurappa said here in Hubballi.

His remarks appeared to gain credence as rebel Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi declared in Belagavi he would resign from the assembly, leave the party and join the BJP. He is learned to have had a meeting with senior BJP leaders of Yamakanmaradi constituency at a private hotel in Belagavi city.

According to the sources, in the meeting, Ramesh said the coalition government will be dislodged after the Lok Sabha election results as “four to five Congress MLAs”, including him, will resign. “Our resignations will result in by-elections in many constituencies. I will contest the by-election from Gokak,” Ramesh Said.

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