Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS/HB)

Udupi, Nov 4: Speaking on the issue of video leak of CM Yediyurappa, MP Shobha Karandlaje said, "The disqualified MLAs can join any party they want to. They have that authority with them. Disqualified MLAs are not under any kind of restrictions. They are roaming freely in their respective constituencies. Our government is formed on number game,” said Shobha, speaking to the press at the BJP office of the city on Monday, November 4.

"BJP government was formed due to the resignation of the disqualified MLAs. Yediyurappa has spoken these points. There is no question of wrong or injustice in this speech. What is wrong in CM Yediyurappa's statement? The 17 disqualified MLAs will contest from the party, they like. We are trying to get the disqualified MLAs to BJP. They can definitely join BJP. They are free to express their opinions. They are independent,” she said.

Reacting to that statement of state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel that the audio CD issue is the handiwork of former CM Siddaramaiah, Shobha said, "Siddaramaiah is playing dirty political games since ages. He blackmailed people in political arena. After he left JD(S), he is blackmailing Congress. Because of the same reason he was chief minister for five years. He had blackmailed the Congress high command that he will quit the party, if he is not made the CM. Even now, being the leader of the opposition, Siddaramaiah is blackmailing the high command. MLAs of the Congress party know this tactics of Siddaramaiah better."

"There is no need for anyone to learn lessons from Siddaramaiah. The dirty lesson of Siddaramaiah, will be a bad message for the future generation. The people of the state have discarded him. In future also he will be discarded by the electorate," said MP Shobha.

On the issue of Congress leader Vijaya Shankar joining BJP, Shobha said, "Vijay Shankar is the best-behaved person in his whole community. He is quitting Congress in the land inhabited by Siddaramaiah. This is a matter of happiness for us. There is no issue for the upcoming by-elections. Yediyurappa will complete the term. The state treasury is in dire straits. The leaders of the former government have left the financial condition of the state in bad shape. Still CM Yediyurappa will complete the remaining three and a half years of term."

Speaking on the issue of arrest of D K Shivakumar by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), MP Shobha Karandlaje said, "ED officials will not give any public statement. Do not use ED for personal gains. ED does not have any boss. ED is an independent agency. It is an organization that is formed according to the constitution. ED must have arrested D K Shivakumar after following him for at least six months to one year. First they monitor the financial transactions of the person and then slap the case on him or her. There is no need of any boss to ED."

Showing some soft corner to JD(S), Shobha said, "I will not say anything on former PM and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. Everyone knows how they have managed the coalition for one year. Because of Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy lost his position. Many JD(S) leaders themselves have said this. I will not talk about these two leaders of JD (S). I will give comment on them after the bye-elections are over."