Karnataka

Not aware of any fresh conditions: Yeddyurappa

Belman (Udupi district): The former Deputy Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa said on Thursday that the new coalition government expected to be formed by him would be based on the agreement reached between him and the former Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, 21 months ago.

Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Yeddyurappa said he was not aware of any fresh conditions set by president of the State unit of Janata Dal (Secular) Merajuddin Patel or about the letter reportedly written by president of Janata Dal (S) H.D. Deve Gowda to the BJP president Rajnath Singh.

“I met Mr. Deve Gowda recently. He did not speak of any fresh conditions. I am unaware of any fresh conditions. These are just rumours. There is no question of any new conditions,” he said.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that 129 MLAs of the BJP and Janata Dal (S) had chosen him as their leader. He commanded majority in the Legislative Assembly.

The verdicts of the Supreme Court clearly stated that a person enjoying the support of the majority of MLAs should be sworn in as Chief Minister.

Consequent to Governor Rameshwar Thakur sending his report, he was confident that President’s Rule might be revoked by Friday evening and a new coalition government would be in the saddle in two or three days.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said the BJP had stuck to the agreement reached with Janata Dal (S) in the past 20 months and “had never crossed the Lakshman rekha.”

Bowing to the wishes of the people, the Janata Dal (S), which earlier breached the agreement, had now decided to support the BJP.

“Development work has come to a standstill under President’s Rule. The Governor’s rule is actually Congress rule by proxy. The Congress tried to come to power through indirect means, but failed. I am confident the Governor will invite me to form the Government as he (Mr. Thakur) is a follower of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan,” he said.

On the stand of the BJP if the Centre decided to seek the advice of the Supreme Court on the issue, he said there was no need for it as the judgments of the Supreme Court were clear on the matter.

“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a statesman. He will not refer the issue to the Supreme Court,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said.

President of the State unit of BJP D.V. Sadananda Gowda; B. Nagaraj Shetty, MLA; V.S. Acharya and Ganesh Karnik, MLCs; and other BJP leaders were present.

Mr. Yeddyurappa, who came by a helicopter to Karkala in Udupi district, visited the Sri Venkataramana Temple and Sri Anantashayana Temple there. He then visited the Sri Durgaparmeshwari Temple at Belman, about 30 km from Udupi. He also visited the Sri Krishna Temple/Math in Udupi.

Mangalore Staff Correspondent reports:

President of the State unit of BJP D.V. Sadananda Gowda said here on Thursday that H.D. Deve Gowda, president of the Janata Dal (Secular), had not laid fresh conditions for formation of a new government under the leadership of B.S. Yeddyurappa.

He told presspersons that both parties had decided to form the government as per the agreement arrived at 21 months ago. Other than the aspects agreed upon earlier, no new conditions had been laid to enable the BJP to head the government. He termed reports on the fresh conditions as baseless and speculative. Mr. Gowda said if needed both the parties would parade their MLAs before President Pratibha Patil to prove that the coalition partners had enough number to form the government. Such a need might not arise, he said.

The BJP State president said efforts at forming the government in the State would continue.

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