Bangalore:
Days after 13 of his loyalist legislators in BJP announced their resignations, pushing the government into a crisis, Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) chief BS Yeddyurappa today said he has no intention to topple the Shettar govt.
The former Karnataka chief minister also indicated that he is not averse to presentation of budget by it on February 8.
"Our aim is not to topple the Government", Mr Yeddyurappa, who quit the BJP nearly two months ago, told reporters.
He said if he had indeed wanted the collapse of the government, he would have done it on December 9 itself by getting BJP MLAs (who shared stage with him at the formal launch of his party) resigned then itself.
Referring to 13 BJP MLAs who wanted to resign, he said they are joining the KJP to strengthen it as the elections are approaching fast. "The intention of these MLAs is not to topple the government".
On the charge that he is pulling out MLAs from the BJP to prevent Mr Shettar from presenting the budget, "Had I wanted to oppose budget presentation, I would have got 20 MLAs to resign at one go. We don't have such intention".
Mr Yeddyurappa had said in the past he does not want to take the blame if the Government were to fall, indicating that the KJP should not be blamed for the downfall of the Shettar govt.
But, at the same time, the former Chief Minister had several times attacked Shettar, saying he is "shameless" as he continues to be in office despite the Government being reduced to "minority".
The 13 MLAs attempt to submit their resignations to the Speaker on January 23 failed as he was not in station, following which they handed over copies of their resignation letters to Governor HR Bhardwaj.