Yeddyurappa not to rock Jagadish Shettar’s boat

He cites the possibility of the State facing early polls as reason for his decision

Close on the heels of withdrawing himself from the politics of issuing deadlines to topple the Jagadish Shettar government, the former Chief Minister and Karnataka Janata Paksha president B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday indicated that he may also desist from making efforts to topple the government as an early Assembly election was expected.

Addressing presspersons after inaugurating the KJP’s election office in Bangalore, Mr. Yeddyurappa said: “We have a credible information that the notification for the Assembly election is likely to be issued on February 10 by the Election Commission of India and the polling is expected in April. We will now focus on strengthening the party ahead of the polls. In this context, it is inevitable for us to tolerate with the present government till the polls.”

He said: “I had earlier brought the BJP to power in the State for the first time though that party never had a strong presence in any of the southern States. Now I will ensure that the KJP comes to power in Karnataka.”

He said he would meet the heads of regional parties in other States too in a bid to evolve a strategy to counter national parties.

Tour

Mr. Yeddyurappa said he would tour about 50 Assembly constituencies after January 23. During the tour, he would select candidates to contest the polls on KJP ticket.

Replying to queries, he said projecting Mr. Shettar, who hails from the Lingayat community, as Chief Minister by the BJP would not weaken him (Yeddyurappa) politically. He ridiculed Mr. Shettar by accusing him of failure to launch any new welfare measures. “He is keeping himself busy by inaugurating the programmes that had been launched by me as Chief Minister,” he said.

Meanwhile launching an attack on Home Minister R. Ashok, Mr. Yeddyurappa alleged that the law and order situation had failed in the State. “A big man who is working as Home Minister has failed to provide protection to women. What else can he achieve?” he wondered and remarked: “I do not know whether the Home Minister is there or not?”