Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 1: By way of reassurance and clarification to disqualified legislators whose future is in limbo, Karnataka chief minister, B S Yediyurappa, has said that there is no change in the earlier stand to issue BJP tickets to them for the by-poll. While this insistence had somewhat brought respite to the disqualified legislators who were unnerved by speculations about them getting jettisoned, the belligerent aspirants within the BJP who were hoping to become party candidates are jaded.

Utterances of some BJP leaders including the latest one by former minister and Hukkeri MLA, Umesh Katti, that BJP will have nothing to with the disqualified legislators during the by-poll, had put these people in a quandary. They were feeling let down after having put their political future at stake in leaving their respective parties.

Now Yediyurappa has stressed that BJP tickets would be issued to these disqualified MLAs. The statement made by Yediyurappa at his home constituency, Shikaripur, that the BJP could rise to power in the state because of sacrifices made by 15 MLAs who resigned from the Congress and the JD(S) and therefore they are sure to get BJP tickets during the by-poll, has been received with joy by some and disappointment by others.

Yediyurappa said that this issue has already been discussed with national president of the party, Amit Shah and a decision has been taken. He said that he has spoken to Umesh Katti about the statement made by him, adding that the issue of giving certain positions to party legislators would be discussed in the next cabinet meeting. He said that there are some minor differences within the party, which would be sorted out by sitting and discussing the matter together.

Disqualified Hirekerur MLA, B C Patil, has welcomed Yediyurappa's statement. Speaking to media persons at Vidhana Soudha here on Monday, he said he and his fellow legislators who were disqualified by the assembly Speaker are confident of getting favourable decision in the Supreme Court. He said the disqualified MLAs will sit together and discuss the issue of crossing over to the BJP. He felt that Umesh Katti should not have spoken against Yediyurappa and that he should have checked practical situation before saying something.