Do they have the numbers?

BANGALORE: While energy minister K S Eshwarappa is clear that his fight is not to destabilize the government but to bring in "orderliness'' in the functioning of Yeddyurappa, Reddy brothers' agenda seems to be different.
Their attempt to replace Yeddyurappa with that of another Lingayat has failed. The party bosses who they met in New Delhi last week told them that the present CM cannot be changed at any cost.
Apart from party leader Sushma Swaraj, the Reddys seems to have no godfathers. Besides, they are taking on Yeddyurappa purely on personal grounds. They have the support of only a handful of MLAs.
What it requires for Reddys to destablize the government
* Of the total strength of 115 BJP MLAs, 77 need to come out and form a separate group. Only then they will not attract provisions of the anti-defection Act. This seems impossible for this faction to achieve as MLAs between 10-15 are in Reddys' camp.
* Another strategy is to keep on pressuring the government through all means and get their work done. Health secretary M Madan Gopal's transfer was done out of pressure exerted by Reddy faction.
* Another possibility, though tough, is to ask MLAs supporting Reddy faction to tender resignation to their assembly membership and pave way for instability. As most of the Reddy-supporting MLAs are first-timers and young, nobody seems to be willing to try this game.