Awaiting instruction from top leadership on forming govt: Yeddyurappa
Bengaluru, Jul 24: BJP's Karnataka president B S Yeddyurappa said Wednesday he was awaiting instructions from his party central leadership on staking claim to form an alternative government in the state.
The 14-month old Congress-JDS coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy collapsed on Tuesday after losing the vote of confidence in the assembly in a climax to three-week long intense power struggle.
"I'm awaiting instructions from Delhi. I can call legislature party meeting any time and go to Raj Bhavan (to stake claim).
I'm waiting for it," Yeddyurappa told reporters after meeting RSS leaders at its state headquarters "Keshava Krupa" here.
Noting that it was because of the blessings and cooperation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he has grown from taluk to state level to become Chief Minister, he said, "I have come here to take blessings from elders of Sangh Parivar before taking next step."
Soon after the JDS-Congress government lost the vote of confidence in the assembly, Yeddyurappa Tuesday had said he will meet the governor after consulting the party central leaders.
He had also written to BJP national president Amit Shah last night.
"I am very much elated and pleased to disclose to you that we have defeated the confidence motion moved by the Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy paving the way for the formation of our party government in Karnataka," Yeddyurappa's letter toShah read.
Stating that party's 105 members stood like a "rock" with the party at this juncture, he said, "We had a testing time for the last couple of days for various political reasons, but overcame all those critical moments before defeating the confidence motion.
"Now more than we the party members, people of the stateare a relieved lot as they were fed up with the bad governance of the coalition setup," Yeddyurappa in his letter added.
Senior BJP legislator J C Madhuswamy said, "party national president Amit Shah has to instruct us to call a legislature party meeting in the presence of an observer to elect the leader."
He said "things have to go democratically as ours is a national party, so we are waiting for instructions from them, after that appointment with Governor will be sought."
In the trial of legislative strength, Kumaraswamy had garnered 99 votes against the 105 by the BJP.
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Cong prepared for upcoming Bagalkote, Davangere South Assembly bypolls: Siddaramaiah
Bagalkote (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday asserted that the Congress is ready for the upcoming by-election to the Bagalkote and Davangere South Assembly constituencies.
Bypolls for the Bagalkote and Davanagere South assembly constituencies are necessitated following the deaths of sitting Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
"The preparations for the bypolls are completed. We are ready for the byelection," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about the bypolls.
Stating that the Congress high command will decide the candidates for the bypolls, the CM said, "In Bagalkote, late H Y Meti's family members are also strong aspirants. It is not wrong to have aspirations; we (state leaders) will consider all aspects and recommend a candidate. The high command will make the final decision."
The bypoll date may be announced within a week, he added.
The state Congress had recently constituted steering committees for both segments to select candidates and formulate necessary electoral strategies for the victory of party candidates.
In Bagalkote, Congress's Meti defeated BJP's Veeranna Charantimath by a margin of 5,878 votes in the 2023 Assembly polls. In Davangere South, Congress's Shivashankarappa defeated BJP's B G Ajay Kumar by a margin of 27,888 votes.
On the LPG supply constraints, especially commercial cylinders, caused by the West Asia conflict, the chief minister said it is the central government's responsibility to ensure supplies.
"Who should supply gas cylinders? It is the central government. If they supply, the state will ensure distribution. Our Food and Civil Supplies Minister (K H Muniyapopa) has held two meetings (with oil companies). I wrote a letter to the concerned central minister to ensure there is no shortage. It is the responsibility of the Government of India," he added.
To a question regarding the implementation of internal reservation in recruitment to government jobs, Siddaramaiah said he has called a special cabinet meeting to discuss it on March 27 and a final decision will be made there.
There are reports about alleged rifts between SC (Right) and SC (Left) factions within the ruling Congress regarding internal reservation during the recruitment announced for 56,432 vacant jobs.
The state government had recently decided to conduct recruitment based on the reservation order in force before December 28, 2022 (15 per cent for SCs and 3 per cent for STs), due to the stay on the enhanced quota and internal reservation, while continuing to pursue its case in court.
