JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy dared Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to seek a fresh mandate if he thought he has the confidence of the people.

However, he said he would not approach the Karnataka Governor to demand the dissolution of the assembly. JD(S) -- a lead player in the state politics – is keeping a close watch on the Karnataka crisis.

Kumaraswamy said he was not in touch with any BJP leader and denied that his party was exploring the possibility of aligning with one of the factions in the state BJP in case of a break-up in the party unit.

"I have not met any BJP leader after their intra-party activities started after the differences. Until now I have not met anybody. For our party it is not necessary to meet BJP leaders at this stage," he told reporters in Bangalore.

He, however, said if Yeddyurappa was confident that he still enjoys the support of the people, he should seek a fresh mandate to defuse the crisis in his party.

"If he has such faith in the people of Karnataka, he must go to the people. This kind of situation is continuing for 10-12 days. The administration is going to collapse. It has already collapsed," he said, adding "therefore, I am demanding that he must go to the people".

"If the Chief Minister has got any sense, then he must dissolve the assembly," he added.

Kumaraswamy left for Bangalore along with his father and party chief H D Deve Gowda.

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