Yeddyurappa’s decision to duck the test was announced by Party State President K S Eshwarappa who made a formal statement to the effect, while Kumaraswamy went out of his way to inform the media about his intention to be in the temple on the appointed day.
The chief minister will be at Dharmasthala on June 27 to attend other programmes, but he and Kumaraswamy are not likely to come face to face.
Yeddyurappa, who had, through an advertisement in the print media, challenged Kumaraswamy to prove his charge that the chief minister had tried to strike a compromise deal with him by sending an emissary, however, remained incommunicado to the media and allowed Eshwarappa to announce his retreat.
Kumaraswamy, however, had other ideas. “Yeddyurappa has already branded me a betrayer through his political manipulations. If I refuse to take the oath now, I will be called a political opportunist,” Kumaraswamy stated.
HDK’s plans
JD(S) sources said Kumaraswamy planned to place before the deity copy of the letter that he had written to Dharmastala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade on June 19 on the entire issue, if Yeddyurappa fails to turn up. He had explained in detail about how Yeddyurappa’s aides approached him to buy his silence.
Addressing a press conference, Eshwarappa declared, “Yeddyurappa will not take the truth test,” and added that the chief minister had heeded the advice of the party president Nitin Gadkari.
“Even if the chief minister goes to Dharmasthala on June 27, he will not take oath. The BJP is a national party and will not use religious sentiments to settle political scores,” Eshwarappa said.
Yeddyurappa will leave Bangalore for Dakshina Kannada on June 26 by train and visit the temple at Dharmasthala the next day at 10 am. He will pray at the temple before leaving for Kukke Subramanya to launch some development works.
Political battles
Interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of a function in Bangalore, Gadkari said he has advised the Chief Minister not to take political battles to religious places.
“We will fight political battles legally and politically,” Gadkari said. Though Yeddyuappa was present along with Gadkari, he refused to speak to the media.
The Chief Minister had recently dropped hints that he may not take the oath on June 27 and had said he would decide on June 26. He began having second thoughts about the oath with religious leaders opposing it.
Soon after Gadkari’s statement, Kumaraswamy released a media statement announcing that he will stick to his stand.
“It was Yeddyurappa who threw the challenge to take the oath through an open letter. I do not want to give any scope for people to doubt me. Whether the Chief Minister comes or not, I will take the oath,” he stated.
