Haveri:
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today took over as President of his newly-minted Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) at a massive rally in Haveri in north Karnataka. After months of threats, behind-the-scene bargaining and public displays of strong emotion, Mr Yeddyurappa had finally quit the BJP at the end of November.
In a sign of potential trouble for the BJP government in the state, at least 10 ruling party MLAs attended the rally ignoring the party warnings to legislators and other leaders to keep away from it. Prior to the launch, Mr Yeddyurappa also hosted a breakfast meeting which was attended by at least 21 BJP MLAs, seven MLCs and four Lok Sabha MPs. Actress Pooja Gandhi, who was with the JD(S), was also there to join the KJP.
Addressing the rally today, Mr Yeddyurappa slammed Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and dared the BJP leadership to dissolve the assembly and go before the people.
"Shettar said action will be taken against legislators if they participated in today's rally. The government has no majority now. You are in Chief Minister's chair because of the support of Yeddyurappa. If you have the guts, dissolve the Assembly and seek fresh mandate", he said.
Mr Yeddyurappa's comments came a day after Mr Shettar sacking Cooperative Minister BJ Puttaswamy, a loyalist of the former, from the cabinet with the BJP also suspending another staunch supporter and Tumkur MP G S Basavaraj from the party. Both were issued show cause notices.
Ruling out his resignation, Mr Shettar today asserted that he still commanded majority. He, however, said action would be taken against those who defied the party directive and participated in Mr Yeddyurappa's rally. "There is no question of tolerating indiscipline".
Today's event can be billed as a show of strength. Thousands of people turned up in Haveri for Mr Yeddyurappa's rally.
Sufficient numbers will give notice that the KJP could have a significant impact on next year's assembly elections. Mr Yeddyurappa would like to play kingmaker if he cannot be the king.
Mr Yeddyurappa, who was forced to step down following corruption charges, had done much to build up the BJP's presence in Karnataka, heading its first government in south India. But party heads did not agree to his repeated demands to be reinstated - or given the post of state party president.
Mr Yeddyurappa staged several shows of strength over the months - huddling with his followers in resorts outside Bangalore - and being openly critical of party leadership, especially long-time rival Ananth Kumar. But the high command did not relent - and Mr Yeddyurappa parted ways with the BJP after decades of being its most powerful leader in the state.
Mr Yeddyurappa still has his loyalists although so far none of the MLAs close to him have formally joined the KJP. Mr Yeddyurappa has stated that he does not want to bring down the government or embarrass the BJP with his new party. Given his past record, the BJP leadership will be taking that claim with a liberal pinch of salt.
(With inputs from PTI)
In a sign of potential trouble for the BJP government in the state, at least 10 ruling party MLAs attended the rally ignoring the party warnings to legislators and other leaders to keep away from it. Prior to the launch, Mr Yeddyurappa also hosted a breakfast meeting which was attended by at least 21 BJP MLAs, seven MLCs and four Lok Sabha MPs. Actress Pooja Gandhi, who was with the JD(S), was also there to join the KJP.
Addressing the rally today, Mr Yeddyurappa slammed Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and dared the BJP leadership to dissolve the assembly and go before the people.
"Shettar said action will be taken against legislators if they participated in today's rally. The government has no majority now. You are in Chief Minister's chair because of the support of Yeddyurappa. If you have the guts, dissolve the Assembly and seek fresh mandate", he said.
Mr Yeddyurappa's comments came a day after Mr Shettar sacking Cooperative Minister BJ Puttaswamy, a loyalist of the former, from the cabinet with the BJP also suspending another staunch supporter and Tumkur MP G S Basavaraj from the party. Both were issued show cause notices.
Ruling out his resignation, Mr Shettar today asserted that he still commanded majority. He, however, said action would be taken against those who defied the party directive and participated in Mr Yeddyurappa's rally. "There is no question of tolerating indiscipline".
Today's event can be billed as a show of strength. Thousands of people turned up in Haveri for Mr Yeddyurappa's rally.
Sufficient numbers will give notice that the KJP could have a significant impact on next year's assembly elections. Mr Yeddyurappa would like to play kingmaker if he cannot be the king.
Mr Yeddyurappa, who was forced to step down following corruption charges, had done much to build up the BJP's presence in Karnataka, heading its first government in south India. But party heads did not agree to his repeated demands to be reinstated - or given the post of state party president.
Mr Yeddyurappa staged several shows of strength over the months - huddling with his followers in resorts outside Bangalore - and being openly critical of party leadership, especially long-time rival Ananth Kumar. But the high command did not relent - and Mr Yeddyurappa parted ways with the BJP after decades of being its most powerful leader in the state.
Mr Yeddyurappa still has his loyalists although so far none of the MLAs close to him have formally joined the KJP. Mr Yeddyurappa has stated that he does not want to bring down the government or embarrass the BJP with his new party. Given his past record, the BJP leadership will be taking that claim with a liberal pinch of salt.
(With inputs from PTI)
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