The former Chief Minister B.S. Yedduyrappa dared Deputy Chief Minister and president of the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party K.S. Eshwarappa to dissolve the Legislative Assembly and face elections.
Addressing presspersons here on Monday, he said mere warnings to MLAs, Ministers and MPs that they would be ousted from the party if they attended the Karnataka Janata Paksha convention in Haveri on December 9 was a futile exercise. Mr Yeddyurappa said his supporters were bold and were prepared for any eventuality after attending the KJP convention.
“If they want to ruin themselves, let them take disciplinary action against my followers,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
When his attention drawn to the fact that MLAs identified with the former Minister B. Sriramulu were spared while his followers were warned by the party, he said the BJP had been practising double standards. “I have started making poll arrangements and have identified some new faces with seasoned leaders as candidates in the next elections,” he said.
However, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that he had instructed the MPs supporting him to work for the KJP from outside for the next one and half years and advised them not to identify themselves with the KJP and get into unnecessary tribulations.
Earlier, in the day, Mr. Yeddyurappa earlier apologised to senior BJP leader L.K. Advani for his remarks against him in Honnali two days ago. He had shouted “dikkara” to Mr. Advani couple of times at a public meeting for acting at the behest of Ananth Kumar. On Monday, he clarified that he had said so in a fit of anger against Mr. Ananth Kumar. He said that he had high regard for Mr. Advani.
