JD(S) MLAs in favour of supporting BJP: Horatti

At a time when the future of the Bharatiya Janata Party government post bypolls is being speculated, MLC and senior JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti has said that most of the JD(S) MLAs were in favour of extending support to the BJP government and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy should take a decision on it after taking everyone into confidence.

Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, Mr. Horatti concurred with Mr. Kumaraswamy’s opinion that midterm polls should not happen at this juncture.

Admitting that JD(S) MLAs were in a “state of confusion” because of the “emotional nature” of Mr. Kumaraswamy, he said that his tendency to take decisions in haste without thinking much often left the MLAs confused. “Mr. Kumaraswamy thinks that the BJP government should stay in the State. It is a good thought that the government should be allowed to continue. But he should convene a meeting of all, discuss and then take a decision,” he said.

To a query, Mr. Horatti said that there was also a thinking that the party should support the BJP in the forthcoming bypolls. “However, it all depends on H.D. Deve Gowda’s consent,” he said. The former Minister said that nobody could possibly guess what would happen in politics. “Mr. Kumaraswamy had complete faith in Congress leader Siddaramaiah. However, the coalition government did not survive,” he said.

Mr. Horatti said that no government would permanently stay in power. Supporting the remarks of Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa about disqualified MLAs, he said that the MLAs who tendered resignation had done so because of their trust in the BJP. “Operation Kamala has already happened. The BJP should now keep its words given to the MLAs who resigned. I support Mr. Yediyurappa on this issue,” he said.

Statement welcomed

Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan welcomed Mr. Horatti’s statement. Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, he said: “They might have come to this decision considering the excellent work being done by the BJP government and the Chief Minister.”