Karnataka Political Crisis Ends, BS Yeddyurappa Says 'Won't Destabilise Congress-JDS Coalition Government'
Yeddyurappa's statement came a day after the Congress shifted all its MLAs, excluding four, to a private resort fearing a poaching bid.
Bengaluru, January 19: After giving sleepless nights to Karnataka Congress leadership throughout this week, BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday said he would not destabilise the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. Yeddyurappa's statement came a day after the Congress shifted all its MLAs, excluding four, to a private resort fearing a poaching bid in the wake of 'Operation Lotus'.
“We will not try to destabilise this government for any reason, let them not have that fear. We will work as the opposition. Let the Congress-JD(S) leaders not have any doubt about it," Yeddyurappa said. Meanwhile, over 100 BJP legislators, who were housed in two hotels in Haryana for the last five days, on Saturday left for their homes. A total number of MLAs were 104, three of them had left the hotel in the last three days. Karnataka: BJP Trying to Topple Congress-JDS Government? Here's The Number Game.
"I have directed all our MLAs in the resort to come to Bengaluru. They have all left, they are all coming (back). Now our work is to tour the drought-affected areas where people are suffering and try to address the problems they are facing," the former chief minister said. The Congress party over the past week has been accusing the BJP of allegedly poaching its legislators.
On Friday, the Congress moved all its MLAs to a resort to allegedly “escape” the BJP’s “onslaught”. According to top Congress sources, at least eight party MLAs had decided to jump ship and the party’s legislators were shifted to the resort on the outskirts of the city to avoid this. Two independent MLAs have already withdrawn their support from the coalition government.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah welcomed Yeddyurappa’s decision to call back all BJP MLAs and asked him to “walk the talk” on not trying to destabilise the ruling coalition. “I welcome Yeddyurappa’s decision to call back the BJP legislators from Delhi and send them to monitor the drought management in the state,” the Congress leader said in a tweet in Kannada.
“Yeddyurappa has said that they will not destabilise the state government, they will work as opposition. Let Congress, JD(S) leaders not fear. He should walk the talk and save the public’s trust,” Siddaramaiah said in another tweet.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 19, 2019 08:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).