I have faith that MLAs will stay with us and support party: Mallikarjun Kharge on Karnataka crisis

Commenting on Karnataka crisis, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said he has faith that MLAs will "stay with us".

"Many of the MLAs who want to leave Congress have been associated with the party for a long time. I've faith that they'll stay with us & support the party. I'm going to Bengaluru. I'll make further comments after looking at the ground situation there," ANI quoted Mallikarjun Kharge as saying on Saturday.

Senior Congress leader and coalition coordination committee chief Siddaramaiah on Saturday stressed that the government in Karnataka would continue. His comments came after a flurry of resignations by the ruling combine MLAs.

Meanwhile, the BJP said it had nothing to do with the resignations.

State BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa said his party would take "appropriate decision at the appropriate time."

Asked if BJP, the single largest party, would make any move to stake a claim before the Governor, Yeddyurappa said "We will not do such things. We will wait and watch the developments that are unfolding," he said.

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Karnataka crisis: Here’s what we know so far

Putting a question mark over the government's survival, 14 MLAs of the ruling JD(S)-Congress alliance in Karnataka have submitted their resignation to the Speaker.
"Fourteen MLAs from Congress and JD(S), including Anand Singh, have submitted resignation from the Assembly to the Speaker...we also brought to matter to the notice of governor," JD(S) MLA A H Vishwanath told reporters after meeting Governor Vajubhai Vala.
Singh submitted his resignation to the Speaker earlier this week.
JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda said the ball was in the Speakers court.

Amid the political turmoil, Siddaramaiah said AICC general secretary Venugopal would arrive to hold talks with leaders.
"Nothing will happen..Venugopal (AICC General Secretary) will come (to Bengaluru)..nothing will happen, the government will continue," Siddaramaiah said.
"How it (government) will be unstable? The resignation has to get accepted right? It has not been accepted yet. Siddaramaiah, who is also the CLP leader said, he will speak to MLAs. "We are trying to contact them.."
Trying to find a solution to the crisis, Minister and Congress troubleshooter D K Shivakumar held talks with four Congress MLAs Ramalinga Reddy, ST Somashekhar, Byrati Basavaraj and Muniratna.