Fresh talks with dissident Karnataka legislators in Goa

PANAJI: Senior BJP leaders will today hold fresh talks with dissident legislators here to defuse the crisis which has rattled the B S Yeddyruppa government in Karnataka.

"I will be meeting them (dissidents). There are some issues which would be discussed and settled," Goa's senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said.

The events are unfolding at Taj Exotica Resort at Benaulim, which has turned into a fortress since last night, with tight security around after around 15 legislators, including nine from BJP, checked in at the resort on Thursday.

Parrikar said that the dissident legislators have certain grievances with the government.

"That does not mean that they are supporting Congress. The Congress has been trying to woo them with all possible means," the former Goa Chief Minister alleged.

In a related development, Karnataka's former Chief Minister H D Kumarswamy has also arrived in the state and is lodged in the same hotel accompanied by local Congress leaders including state Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira and Public Works Department minister Churchill Alemao.