Bengaluru: With desperation as the defining factor, the Karnataka coalition government is trying everything possible under the sun to cling to power.

Now, in the latest, sources say that chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and Ramalinga Reddy, the Congress MLA from BTM Layout (Bengaluru) are flying to Mumbai to meet the disgruntled MLAs staying at a hotel in Mumbai.

Sources added that former home minister Reddy may be made the chief minister while Ramesh Jarkiholi, the Congress MLA from Gokak, might be made the deputy chief minister.

“With a view to somehow retain power and keep the BJP at bay, the coalition think-tank feels that by making Ramalinga Reddy the chief minister and Ramesh Jarkiholi his deputy, they can pacify the rebelling MLAs, chiefly Congress MLAs ST Somashekar, Byrathi Basavaraj and Muniratna Naidu. So they might be flying to Mumbai to establish contact with the MLAs and talk to them,” sources said.

Congress spokesperson Kengal Renu said, “The endeavour to bring back disgruntled elements from Mumbai may have some meaning, but to say that the chief minister and his deputy will change falls under the realm of speculation. I don’t want to comment on it.”

And the BJP, which is oozing confidence feels such a move will not yield fruits.

Sreenath Sheshadri, a BJP spokesperson, said, “They can try any number of permutations and combinations. But the writing is on the wall. The administration has failed. Whatever spirit they try to infuse into it, it doesn’t work. The rebel MLAs have taken a call and will not budge even an inch. Till the vote is put to motion, they can’t be sworn in. they can’t change the chief minister. So there is no hope whatsoever.”

It might be recalled that that water resources minister DK Shivakumar in the Kumaraswamy government, GT Deve Gowda, minister for higher education and Shivalingegowda, the JD(S) MLA from Arsikere went to meet the rebel MLAs, but returned empty-handed.

Kumaraswamy is set to face the trust vote on Monday (July 22) in the Assembly after failing to meet two deadlines from Governor Vajubhai Vala.