Bangalore: Yeddyurappa, Rebels Make Peace, Vow to Win By-polls

Bangalore, Mar 28 (PTI): Dissidence-hit BJP's Karnataka unit on Monday presented a picture of unity, with rebel leaders joining Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa at a meeting to ask partymen to work for the victory of BJP candidates in the April 9 by-polls to three assembly constituencies.

State BJP president K S Eswarappa, national general secretary Anantkumar and Rural Development Minister Jagadish Shettar, who last week led the rebels in seeking Yeddyurappa's ouster, attended the meet, asking partymen to ensure defeat of Congress and JD(S).

Yeddyurappa dismissed the talk of differences in the party. "If it is so (differences), it is in your parties," he told the opposition, which has been carrying on a sustained campaign for his removal on corruption and nepotism charges.

Yeddyurappa was also bitter with the media for painting BJP as a dissidence riven unit in the state and said "you will not succeed in your venture".

Eswarappa in his opening remarks at the meet, attended by prominent leaders of Chennapatna, Jagalur and Bangarpet constituencies, said BJP has fielded popular candidates who were certain to win at the hustings.

Anantkumar opined DMK may not return to power in Tamil Nadu and Congress is also on the verge of losing there. Similarly, Communists will lose power in West Bengal and Kerala, he said.

Yeddyurappa came down on Congress and JD(S) saying they have no moral right to criticise defection of its MLAs to BJP. "What did they do for our MLAs, who are now fighting their case before the Supreme Court?Who ferried them to Chennai and Goa?

Congress has no moral right to continue in power at the Centre as it has been facing a spate of "scams", he alleged.

Terming JD(S) as a 'father and son' party, he said BJP workers should ensure the JD(S) was 'wiped out' from the political map of Karnataka.

Rejected by people, both Congress and JD(S) have become "destitutes", he said and slammed them for seeking his resignation.

He also urged partymen to gear up for the by-poll in constituencies which have fallen vacant after disqualification of 16 MLAs who had withdrawn support to his government, saying the Supreme Court was likely to pronounce its verdict soon.

Yeddyurappa claimed that the UPA government might collapse after assembly elections in five states, leading to mid-term polls to the Lok Sabha.