Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah on Sunday called Chief Minister Yeddyurappa “leader of hooligans” and alleged the BJP central leaders were getting a share of money allegedly made by him through illegal means.

He also accused the H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S) of hampering the State’s development by indulging in family politics.

The ruling BJP reacted sharply, describing Siddaramaiah “eldest brother of all hooligans.”
“He (Siddaramaiah) should mind his tongue. He is crossing all limits. We also know how much share the Congress leaders in Delhi have got out of many scams in which State party leaders are involved,” BJP spokesperson Ayanur Manjunath said and asked Siddaramaiah to reveal how much share Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Rehman Khan had given to the party leaders siphoning Rs 108 crore in Amanath Co-operative Bank.

The JD(S), on its part, passed a resolution at its Bangalore city unit convention, urging the Governor to immediately sack the BJP government in the wake of several corruption charges against the chief minister and his Cabinet colleagues. The party leader H D Kumaraswamy alleged that the Yeddyurappa government was surviving using hawala money.

Bypolls to three Assembly Channapatna, Bangarpet and Jagalur constituencies are scheduled on April 9.

‘Two faces of same coin’

Speaking at an awareness programme organised by the party at Kempapura Agrahara, Siddaramaiah said Yeddyurappa will “soon go to jail for his corrupt activities” and predicted that elections to the State Assembly will be held within a year.

“Ever since the BJP came to power, MLAs have become tradable commodities like chickens and pigs. Yeddyurappa is involved in various scams to the tune of Rs one lakh crore in the last three years. How can one expect the development of the State in this atmosphere,” he asked.

He further alleged JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy was trying to join hands with the Bellary Reddy brothers and said the JD(S) and the BJP are two sides of the same coin.

Manjunath, who was addressing reporters, demanded Siddaramaiah’s apology for his derogatory statements against the chief minister and the central leaders
The BJP spokesperson also attacked the JD(S) for allegedly protecting criminals in the
party.

“Surendra Babu, who was the JD(S) candidate from Bangalore North Parliamentary constituency in the 2009 elections, has been caught selling prime land worth Rs 100 crore in Bangalore using fictitious documents. The party has inducted former bureaucrat S Subramanya against whom the Karnataka Lokayuka has recommended action,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, both the BJP and the Congress have convened a meeting of their party leaders on Monday to chalk out strategies for the by-elections. Yeddyurappa and State BJP president K S Eshwarappa, who had recently raised a banner of revolt against the chief minister, will come face to face at the meeting.