'If MLAs kept intact, how can we topple govt?'

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday said that he had asked his leaders not to issue statements expressing doubt over Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy presenting the 2019-20 budget as scheduled on February 8.

“I’ve told my leaders not to make such statements. The date for Kumaraswamy to present the budget has been fixed,” Yeddyurappa told reporters.

Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and former deputy chief minister R Ashoka have publicly doubted whether or not Kumaraswamy will present his budget, solidifying speculation that the saffron party was trying to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition.

JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda had said that it was Yeddyurappa who wanted to topple the government and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no such intention. “Deve Gowda is a former prime minister. He should keep Congress-JD(S) legislators together. If he does, there’s no question of us toppling the government. But without keeping his legislators together, I want to ask him if it is right to pin the blame on the BJP,” Yeddyurappa said.

The BJP is scheduled to hold its legislature party meeting on Tuesday evening, where BJP national general secretary (organization) Ram Lal, who acts as a bridge between the RSS and the saffron party, will participate.

The party is expected to draw up a strategy to counter the Congress-JD(S) coalition over governance and administrative issues during the budget session.