BJP lost because of KJP, Congress threatened Yeddyurappa: Eshwarappa
Daijiworld Media Network – Shimoga (SP)
Shimoga, May 11: Former state BJP president and deputy chief minister, K S Eshwarappa, held former chief minister, B S Yeddyurappa, directly responsible for the rising fortunes of Congress in the state. He was addressing a press conference at the BJP office in the city on Friday May 10.
“Congress has reaped the benefit because of splitting of votes between KJP and BJP and also confusion created out of the creation of KJP. The advantage reaped by Congress is purely of temporary nature, and it will not be long-lasting,” Eshwarappa opined.
He also said that the plan of the Congress to divide BJP’s vote by hoisting Yeddyurappa against BJP to achieve division of votes has succeeded.
"For winning just six seats, there was no need for Yeddyurappa to build a regional party. Congress had threatened Yeddyurappa with sending him to jail, if he did not agree to their suggestion of quitting BJP and floating a regional party. This was done with the sole aim of forcing a divide in the BJP vote bank. Yeddyurappa has confirmed that Congress had benefitted from the division of votes between BJP and KJP. Our party will take this defeat as a challenge and reverse the forturnes in the coming Lok Sabha poll,” he said.
On a question about rumours circulating in some circles relating to efforts being made to woo Yeddyurappa back into BJP, Eshwarappa said he is not aware about such a move. “Top leadership of the party has to decide on this issue. But Yeddyurappa had earlier sworn that he would never come back to BJP. As the former chief minister is in the habit of issuing contradicting statements, I prefer not comment on this one,” he clarified.
Eshwarappa analyzed that Congress suffered from revolt, dissidence and factionalism among leaders. There were allegations that tickets of some constituencies were sold by the Congress leaders. The leaders themselves caused the downfall of Parameshwar in the election, he felt.
About his own rout in the election, the former deputy chief minister said that it was his personal loss, not of the party. He felt he failed to read the minds of the voters and win over their hearts. He also denied that his defeat was not because of caste-based division of votes, duly stressing that it was on account of division of votes between BJP and KJP. He felt that people from all categories had voted for him.
About a number of complaints lodged against BJP activists in the name of several individuals, he felt that this has been done due to political enmity, and wanted institutions like Lokayukta to investigate the issues and bring out truth. He expressed the confidence that he will be cleared of the allegations leveled against him.