Chitradurga, Jun 28 (The Hindu): Kolar MLA R. Varthur Prakash has accused Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa of yielding to the demands of the Reddy brothers of Bellary to remain in power.

Mr. Prakash, who is holding a “Swabahimani Sammelan” on Monday in Haveri, told presspersons here on Saturday that despite holding Forest portfolio, Mr. Yeddyurappa had not ordered an inquiry against the Reddy brothers and Health Minister B. Sriramulu, who according to him, were involved in illegal mining in forestland in Bellary district.

Prakash was recently removed from the post of Chairman of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board. He said  Yeddyurappa had been dictatorial in his functioning making a mockery of the concept of collective responsibility in the Cabinet form of Government. Asked about the reasons for his removal from the post, Prakash said that he did not approve Rs. 100-crore bid for implementing a water supply project in Shikaripur, represented by Yeddyurappa. “The entire project does not exceed Rs. 50 crore but Yeddyurappa wanted approval for Rs. 100 crore since the bid was submitted by his people. When I rejected the tender, he decided to remove me from the post,” he alleged. He claimed that many ministers had empathised with him in his campaign against Mr. Yeddyurappa. “Realising that his chair is shaking, Yeddyurappa has started damage control exercise,” he said.