Yeddyurappa doesn’t rule out tie-up with Congress

Former Minister Shobha Karandlaje made KJP working president

NEW RESPONSIBILITY: KJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa withnewly appointed State working president of the party ShobhaKarandlaje in Bangalore on Friday. Photo: Special Arrangement

The former Minister Shobha Karandlaje was appointed State working president of the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) on Friday and another former Minister C.M. Udasi was appointed senior vice-president.

KJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa, who announced the new office-bearers here, said the party’s focus would be on strengthening its base in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Mr. Yeddyurappa, who had earlier indicated his willingness to have a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Friday said, “No political party was untouchable.”

The KJP would take a suitable decision at an appropriate time, he said, and added that an alliance with the Congress could also be a possibility. The party was focussing on about 10 constituencies, where it had good prospects of victory, he said.

Critical too

Though Mr. Yeddyurappa said the KJP could align with the Congress, he did not spare the party with regard to governance. He said even three months after coming to power, the Siddaramaiah government had made little impact on administration. Though the legislator’s local area development fund was increased to Rs. 2 crore, funds had not been released, thereby hampering development works, he said.

Among other appointees announced on Friday was Mr. Yeddyurappa’s aide Ka.Pu. Siddalingaswamy, who unsuccessfully contested against Mr. Siddaramaiah in the Varuna constituency in the Assembly elections. He was named State secretary of the party.