The former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) State unit president H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday ruled out any electoral tie-up with Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
Asked whether he would associate with Mr. Yeddyurappa in the next few months, Mr. Kumaraswamy said: “With the experience of the past (the JD(S)-BJP rule), there is no question of associating with Mr. Yeddyurappa, who is keen on launching a new party.”
However, Mr. Kumaraswamy told presspersons here on Monday that the party was open to BJP activists such as the former Minister B. Nagaraj Shetty, who have adopted his party’s secular principles. (Mr. Shetty joined the Janata Dal (Secular) on Monday).
Asked if the party would accept Mr. Yeddyurappa if he changes himself, Mr. Kumaraswamy said behaviour of Mr. Yeddyurappa during his days as Chief Minister was unpardonable. The accusations of maladministration and financial irregularities faced by Mr. Yeddyurappa were product of decisions taken during his rule. “His behaviour cannot be pardoned by anybody. There is not question of associating with him even if he changes,” he said.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said Mr. Yeddyurappa continues to threaten to bring down the BJP government even after his confidante Jagadish Shettar was in the helm of affairs. “It will be better to dissolve the Assembly and go for elections,” he said.
Mr. Kumaraswamy dismissed as false allegations that the Janata Dal (Secular) was behind the recent strike called by the road transport corporation employees. He said a group of 200 KSRTC employees had approached him with their problems and he sought intervention of the Chief Minister. “When Mr. Shettar expressed his helplessness, I called Transport Minister R. Ashok, who resolved the problem.” There was no personal agenda and the party did not resort to any act that put Government in hardship, he said.
