Yeddyurappa to focus on strengthening KJP

Having failed to keep his threat of dislodging the Jagadish Shettar government twice this month, KJP president B S Yeddyurappa on Friday said he had no option but to bear with the present political situation.

“The calendar of events for the Assembly polls is likely to be announced around February 10 and elections will be held in April. I will focus my energies on strengthening the KJP,” Yeddyurappa told reporters after inaugurating the KJP’s election office in Bangalore.
Two deadlines set by Yeddyurappa to topple the government fizzled out earlier this month with ministers and MLAs loyal to him unwilling to tender their resignations. Not a single BJP MLA, who are outwardly supporting Yeddyurappa, made it to the KJP office.

However, there are speculations that 14 BJP MLAs, who attended the KJP convention at
Haveri, have worked out a different strategy to create problems for the Shettar government. Instead of submitting their resignation to the Speaker on January 23, they may submit a letter to the governor saying they are withdrawing support to the government.

Yeddyurappa said the parliamentary board of the party will be constituted after January 23. The panel will select and issue tickets to candidates for the Assembly polls, he said. The former chief minister said he will visit the constituencies before finalising the candidates.

The KJP leader said people were the “high command” for regional parties and, attacked the BJP central leadership for not responding to the needs of the people.
Yeddyurappa said there was no question of joining hands with the BJP to form the next government.

He said he was unaware of the plans of some BJP MLAs loyal to him to resign en masse on January 23. He claimed there was no pressure on ministers or MLAs to quit the BJP and join the KJP.

Yeddyurappa said the BJP’s strategy of projecting Shettar, a Lingayat, as its chief ministerial candidate did not make any difference to him.

Ashoka criticised

Yeddyurappa also criticised Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka, who holds the Home portfolio, stating that he had failed to ensure the safety of women in the State.
“He should be ashamed to continue in the post. Thousands of women have gone missing in the State. But, nothing has been done to improve the situation,” Yeddyurappa said.