I am not going to tell you what I discussed with H D Deve Gowda: B S Yediyurappa

Hubballi: In the midst of rising speculation about the  Janata Dal (Secular) likely to support the BJP in the state, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said here on Thursday that he shared a good rapport with its supremo H.D. Deve Gowda.

He , however, refused to go into details about the details of his telephonic conversation with the JD(S) leader.

Speaking to reporters before meeting officials on flood relief measures in Haveri, the Chief Minister said in response to a question, “I cannot tell the media all details about my telephonic talk with Mr Gowda.”

 On former Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah's comments on the leaked audio tape of his alleged speech at a Hubballi BJP meeting, he said with sarcasm that the Congress leader appeared to be showing special concern for him.

Meanwhile,  after inaugurating several development projects for Hirekerur, where byelections are due in December, Mr Yediyurappa promised to turn the constituency into a model one and give a special grant of Rs 100 crore for flood relief measures in Haveri district.

In a clear attempt to pacify BJP leader, U B Banakar, who has threatened to contest as a rebel from Hirekerur should the party field its disqualified MLA, B C Patil from it, the Chief Minister said, “Both B C Patil and Banakar are like my two eyes and they will work like a jodettu (twin bullock cart) for the development of the constituency.  I don't have to visit the constituency if these two leaders join hands and work together.”

Mr Patil, who was present, said  he had joined other disqualified legislators in toppling the coalition government in the state as it failed to allot funds for the development of his constituency. Lauding the Chief Minister, he said the BJP government had released Rs 121 crore for Hirekerur taluk in a short span of hundred days.

The Chief Minister also visited Ranibennur and flagged off various development projects costing Rs 105 crore.