Dissident MLA Dares BJP to Expel him

Shimoga, Dec 16 (DHNS) : Disqualified Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna has dared the BJP leaders to expel him from the party.

“Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and BJP State unit president K S Eshwarappa disqualified the legislators who raised a banner of revolt against the government’s maladministration.

But the party leadership lacks the courage to expel the MLAs who were disqualified on frivolous grounds,” he told a press conference in the city on Wednesday.

Gopalakrishna, who visited the city for the first time after facing disqualification, said all the 17 disqualified legislators would work for the victory of non-BJP candidates in the zilla and taluk panchayat election. However, he did not say which candidate or party he would support.

“As the issue of disqualification is before the Supreme Court, it is not right to speak on the candidates or the party I back,” he said.

Hinting that he would openly campaign for the defeat of the BJP candidates, he admitted he had consulted Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa on the recent political developments.

But he declined to answer queries whether he would join the Congress. “Technically, I am with the BJP and waiting for the Supreme Court verdict. I am hopeful it will be in favour of the 17 MLAs,” he added.

Regarding his future course of action in case the disqualification is quashed by the court, he merely said, “You have to wait and see.”

Speculations are rife that Gopalakrishna would field some of his supporters for the local body election and enter into a secret pact with the Congress

Ex-MLA resigns from BJP

Former legislator M D Lakshminarayana on Wednesday resigned from the BJP and also as chairman of the Karnataka Handloom Development Board alleging he was no longer able to stomach the ''caste politics'' allegedly being indulged by Tumkur District In-charge Minister V Somanna.

Lakshminarayana, who had previously won from the Turuvekere Assembly Constituency on a BJP ticket faxed his resignation letter to party President K S Eshwarappa.

Addressing a press conference in his home town, he had alleged that the taluk core committee of the party had shortlisted G T Latha, wife of local leader Kondajji Vishwanath as the party nominee for a zilla panchayat seat.

However, Somanna gave the B-form to one Sukanya, wife of a local leader H Mahesh, he charged. Somanna, however, rubbished the allegations and denied having misused his position.