The political drama in Karnataka saw its face on the doorstep of a plush hotel in Mumbai on Wednesday after senior Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar was denied entry into the premises where the dissident legislators were holed up.
At least 10 legislators from the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) are lodged in the Renaissance hotel in Powai refusing to meet Shivakumar.
The rebel legislators had even written to Mumbai police commissioner to disallow Shivakumar’s entry into the hotel. The letter claimed that Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, Shivakumar and others are likely to "storm into the hotel".
"We do not want to meet him, kind request to help us in this matter and do not allow them to enter the hotel premises," the letter, signed by all 10 legislators was submitted to the police.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar, who was waiting outside the hotel despite a confirmed booking said, "I don't have any weapons, only a heart." The hotel later informed Shivakumar that his booking has been cancelled.
Rebel Congress legislator Ramesh Jarkiholi told reporters inside the hotel that none of the MLAs was interested in meeting Shivakumar. He was asked to return to Bengaluru.
Jarkiholi said there was no question of taking back resignations and added that another four MLAs would put in their papers that day.
A total of 14 legislators from Congress and JD(S) have resigned since 1st July while another two independent MLAs have withdrawn support to the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government which will be on the brink of collapse if the resignations are accepted.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is holding demonstrations in Bengaluru demanding Kumaraswamy to step down, as the coalition does not have the numbers any more to remain in power. The BJP feigned ignorance of the resignation drama, but the coalition is blaming BJP solely responsible for the whole episode.