'Cong Open to Accepting Yeddyurappa After Careful Examination'

Hubli, Feb 26 (PTI): Congress is prepared to accept former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa into the party, but only after "careful examination" of the details provided by him, Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge today said.

"If Yeddyurappa desires to join the Congress, he will be admitted only after a careful examination of the details provided by him," Kharge told reporters here.

The relationship between Yeddyurappa and the BJP Central leadership is strained after party president Nitin Gadkari rebuffed the veteran leader's bid to regain the chief ministership.

A defiant Yeddyurappa, who had to step down as chief minister after being indicted in the Lokayukta report into illegal mining, had said yesterday that he and his followers would not attend a meeting convened by Gadkari in New Delhi on March 3.

Speculation is rife that the disgruntled Yeddyurappa will leave BJP and float a new party or join another party.

Kharge also said his party was ready to face early elections, but would not topple the BJP-ruled government in Karnataka as it would "fall on its own" due to internal strife.

"The Congress is prepared for any early election, but does not intend to topple or destabilise the BJP government as it would fall on its own due to internal party bickerings," he said. If the government falls, Congress would not be surprised, Kharge added.

"Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda should resign as he had no control over the government and is helpless," he said.

Accusing the BJP of practising "double standards", Kharge said the party was hitting out against corruption at the Centre but was supporting it in the state.

Meanwhile, Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily told reporters in Mangalore that the state was facing a political crisis and asked the BJP to dissolve the Assembly to restore dignity.