The seven-month-old Janata Dal(S)-Congress coalition government appears to be set for a tough challenge with the the BJP central leaders reportedly entering the scene this time to woo disgruntled Congress legislators in a bid to topple the government.

According to sources in the BJP, the party central leaders had remained “observers” during the previous attempt to topple the coalition government, which did not succeed.

However, this time, they are directly monitoring the situation. It may be noted that the moves of some disgruntled Congress legislators, who are upset over not getting berths after the recent ministerial expansion, has caused concern in the ruling coalition.

Some of these MLAs, including industrialist and senior leader Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped as Minister, are said to be in touch with the BJP central leaders in New Delhi.

Sources said that the BJP leaders are taking time over this as they want to execute the process in a discreet manner. “After the earlier embarrassment when the party State leaders made a mess of the situation by failing in their mission after almost going public in their efforts to topple the government, the central leadership is treading cautiously on the issue,” a senior BJP leader said. The BJP State leaders are of the view that it will take about 10 days for their central leadership to come out with a decisive action.

“Perhaps visible action may start some time soon after Sankranti festival (January 15),” a BJP State leader said.

It is learnt that the BJP central leadership has entered the scene as it feels that the continuation of the coalition government may dent the party’s Lok Sabha poll prospects in Karnataka.

Sources said that the BJP is keen to bring down the government before the presentation of the next State budget by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy as the coalition government is expected to use it to create goodwill ahead of the Lok Sabha polls by announcing various new programmes.

Sources made it clear that the BJP central leadership may even wriggle out of the scene if the things do not go its way. The BJP leaders admit that bringing down the coalition government is not an easy task as at least 13 MLAs would have to tender resignation if the present dispensation has to lose majority.