Daijiworld Media Network – Bijapur (SP)

Bijapur, Jan 19: Former union minister and expelled BJP leader, Basanagouda Patil Yetnal, who was among the first to help build the BJP in the state since the last about two decades, will be joining the JDS officially on January 22 along with scores of his followers.

Giving this information to reporters here on Monday January 18, Yetnal said that the present environment in the state BJP, which was known for sticking to principles, ethics, discipline and policies in the past, is suffocating. “The state government led by Yeddyurappa is grossly corrupt. It can not achieve development. H D Kumaraswamy is an able leader, who can provide good administration to the state. I will join the JDS at a function being held at the Darbar High School ground here at 1 pm on Friday,” he announced.

Yetnal accused Yeddyurappa of having a hand in defeating him in the last election, by providing funds to the tune of crores of rupees to his opponent, a Congress candidate. He said that the loyal workers of BJP have been dumped in the name of Operation Kamala. He predicted that the state government will fall shortly, and that many legislators and MPs, who are not feeling comfortable in the BJP, will shift their loyalties to the JDS thereafter. He said that the downfall of the BJP started with the retirement of former Prime Minister, Vajpayee, from active politics. He also held Anant Kumar and Jagadish Shettar equally responsible for the dilution in the BJP’s discipline and ethical standards in the state.