I did not ditch Yeddyurappa: Kumaraswamy

Hubli, Mar 29: "I did not ditch Mr Yeddyurappa, let him keep the truth before the people" JD (S) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today challenged previous coalition partner BJP. Coming down heavily on BJP and Mr B S Yeddyurappa's frequent allegation about being ditched by JD(S) and himself (Kumaraswamy), he said that "I did not ditch you. Please keep the truth before the people. I request the media to convey this (challenge) to Mr Yeddyurappa".

Addressing party workers as part of his party's "Jaitra Yatre' here, he said that it was Mr Yeddyurappa who stepped down from power on his own without heeding to the suggestions of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. "It all happened because of the infighting in the BJP", he alleged. Mr Kumaraswamy said that he was forced to take a decision against transfer of power due to party compulsions, but the BJP, which tasted power because of him (though I also became Chief Minister because of their (BJP) support) corruption charges were leveled against me within four months of my becoming Chief Minister by none other than BJP Legislative Council member. But Mr Yeddyurappa did not utter a single word.

Asserting that there was no need for political parties in the state, Mr Kumaraswamy stressed the need for Tamil Nadu kind of politics in the state, so that aspirations of the people could be fulfilled by exerting pressure on the union government.

"Look at AIADMK and DMK, which dictated Centre on almost all issues concerning the state and the people. Being Chief Minister I took several proposals to the centre during the coalition government in the state, but what I got from the centre, I mean the Prime Minister and Union Ministers, was just a cup of tea and an assurance that they would consider the proposal. That's not the case with Tamil Nadu", he added.

UNI