Three of the six legislators in the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) are reportedly against the merger of the party with the BJP.
Although state BJP leaders are in a hurry to welcome former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa back into their fold, he may run into opposition from KJP MLAs who see no future for themselves in the BJP.
Yeddyurappa broke away from the BJP late last year and fought this year’s Assembly elections under the KJP symbol.
The KJP has six MLAs including Yeddyurappa. Vishwanath Patil, U B Banakar, B R Patil, Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli and Guru Patil are the others.
At least four MLAs (two-thirds) will have to consent to the merger to escape the punitive provisions of the anti-defection law.
According to KJP sources, three MLAS — B R Patil , Guru Patil and Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli — are opposing the merger and are strongly advocating an independent identity for the party.
The KJP executive committee meeting on Monday will discuss the issue, according to Shobha Karandlaje, Yeddyurappa’s confidante.
B R Patil told Express his “nature and political culture” do not permit him to join the BJP or the Congress. He said Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli and Guru Patil also face the same problem.
Patil also said he would not attend the KJP executive committee meeting in Bangalore on Monday as he was busy with a programme in his constituency.
“I don’t know about the other KJP members. But I can assure you I will not join the BJP,” he said. He also hinted he could shift his loyalty towards the Congress by becoming an associate member of that party.
Yeddyurappa said he had not received any official communication from the BJP on his re-entry. “I will wait and watch,” he remarked.
However, sources in the BJP believe at least five KJP MLAs, including Yeddyurappa and Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli, will switch sides soon.