UNI
Bangalore, Oct 8: Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday alleged that a conspiracy of "manipulative politics" was hatched within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to prevent B S Yediyurappa from becoming chief minister after the transfer of power on October 3.
Speaking to newspersons here after the Janata Dal (Secular) legislature party meeting, he claimed though Yediyurappa stayed in the city for several days from September 30, he did not put in efforts to pave the way for the transfer of power. His meeting with JD (S) chief H D Deve Gowda was also not made public yet.
"It is a lobby of some state BJP leaders that succeeded in prevailing upon him to prevent the transfer of power and Yediyurappa is the victim," he alleged. Recalling developments during the last week, he said this lobby continuously "misled" Yediyurappa and succeeded in its venture.
The conduct of some BJP leaders was only responsible for the non-transfer of power.
"That is why no BJP leader made any effort to discuss with me on the transfer of power during the last one week. Yediyurappa should sit along and ponder over these leaders,'' he added.
To a question, the chief minister said he would call on governor Rameshwar Thakur on Monday and appeal to him to provide him with a chance to prove his strength in the Assembly.
He said his intention was to tell people about the transfer of power and the developments that occurred in the last 20 months, through the Assembly.
On whether his party would seek support from the Congress, he replied in the negative and said: "It is not necessary for me to go and beg the Congress to support me. We prefer mid-term polls," he remarked.
His party would also embark on a state-wide tour to enlighten the people about the reasons that prevented the transfer of power to the BJP.
Our party has got half strength to fight alone: HDK
Bangalore: Withdrawal of support of 79 legislators of the BJP in the 224-member state legislature will reduce the government to a minority, and could force Kumaraswamy to resign. Kumaraswamy has already ruled out allying with the Congress, saying, "Our party has got half strength to fight alone."
However, the Congress party is keenly watching the political situation in the State. Prithviraj Chavan, the central Congress leader in charge of the State, on Saturday said that only after the BJP informs the governor about withdrawing the support, the Congress would take a decision on its future plan.
Congress holds a key political position in the State with its 65 members in the Assembly, excluding the eight other members led by former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, who broke away from the JD (S) to join the Congress.
Kumaraswamy-led JD (S) has officially 57 members in the legislature, but its strength is down to 48 after Siddaramaiah's defection, and requires support of another 65 members to reach the simple majority figure of 113 in the State Assembly. However, support from smaller parties and independents, if Kumaraswamy is able to garner it, only add to 17.
The JD (S) leaders, led by former prime minister H D Deva Gowda, had announced that their party will go for polls and have charged the BJP for trying to malign Deve Gowda and his family.
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