Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily has said that he is not an aspirant for the Chief Minister’s post.
He told presspersons here on Friday that he was only making efforts to ensure that the party got a clear majority and bring back the “glory of Karnataka” as the best-administered and secular State.
He said there was no need for a tie-up with any party, including the Karnataka Janata Party, led by the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. Asked why his party had not projected any leader for the Chief Minister’s post, he said it failed in Punjab where Amarinder Singh’s name was announced for the post and had learnt a lesson.
On the revolt in the party over the party ticket, he said it only showed that there were plenty of people to contest, which was not the case with the BJP, KJP or JD (S); the Congress was a reservoir of talent and had able leaders.
Lashing out at the BJP government, Mr. Moily said it had failed on all fronts. Corruption, nepotism and maladministration were the highlights of the BJP government’s tenure, he charged.
While he lambasted the BJP government for not accepting Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde’s report on mining irregularities, he saw no reason to deny ticket to Anil H. Lad, MP, or V. Muniyappa, MLA, saying they had not been convicted.
When reminded that the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and his partymen were also not convicted, the Union Minister said at least they were jailed.
