Dharam Singh resigns as Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh has resigned.

Dharam Singh's Principal Secretary S V Ranganath handed over the resignation letter to Governor T N Charurvedi at Raj Bhavan on Saturday.

Before sending his resignation, Dharam told reporters that he sought 'one more opportunity' but the Governor cited technical reasons for his inability to do so.

"I am not a person who will cling to power. Considering the totality of circumstances and with the Governor pleading inability to grant more time, I have decided to resign," said Dharam, who looked relaxed after facing political turbulence
lasting about 10 days.

Complete Coverage: A Coalition's Fall

Dharam Singh's resignation paves the way for JD-S rebel leader H D Kumaraswami to form the government in the state with the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Earlier in the day, AICC General Secretary A K Antony told PTI that the Congress will prefer to sit in the opposition in the state assembly and that the party will not prefer President's rule in the state.

"We will sit in the opposition. We will be with people," Antony, who is in charge of party affairs in Karnataka, said a day after the assembly was adjourned sine die amidst uproar without Chief Minister N Dharam Singh seeking a vote of confidence before the January 27 deadline set by the Governor.

"We know very well that the people of Karnataka will back us," he said, adding, "We have one option. We are very clear. We do not believe in horse trading or in dirty politics."    

Antony said that the Speaker's decision to adjourn the house sine die was 'against the norms' as neither the leader of the house nor the opposition leader was consulted before doing so.

Bitter about its coalition partner, Antony said the Congress' alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) was over. He said that to avoid the crisis, the Congress had offered the JDS whatever they wanted.

"All demands were conceded because of our anxiety to prevent communal forces from coming to power. We conceded everything. We thought things would be settled. But that was not to be," Antony said.