Ballari: State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa on Saturday ridiculed Chief Minister Kumaraswamy for planting paddy saplings in Mandya when farmers of north Karnataka were reeling under a drought. Mr Yeddyurappa, who is on a tour of Hyderabad-Karnataka , called the Chief Minister’s sowing programme a “drama,” and claimed that development had come to a standstill in the state under the coalition government.
“When farmers in north Karnataka are reeling under a drought and there is no clarity on the farm loan waiver scheme announced by the government, Kumaraswamy is planting paddy saplings. This is ridiculous and a drama," he contended, speaking to reporters here. Responding to a question, the BJP leader admitted that the party should not have fielded senior leader, B Sriramulu from two constituencies in the recent assembly elections.
“We should have fielded him in Badami alone as this would have helped the party win at least 15 seats more,” he said. To a question on whether Mr Sriramulu would contest the coming Lok Sabha poll, he said that the party high command would decide on the candidates. Asked whether the party would invite mining scam- tainted former minister Gali Janardhan Reddy to rejoin active politics ahead of the LS polls, he once again said that it was left to the party high command to decide.
On Mr Sriramulu's demand for North Karnataka statehood, he said the BJP was committed to a united Karnataka and would not tolerate any of its leaders demanding its division. Mr Yeddyurappa was visibly angered when asked if he had a “soft corner” for Ballari district in-charge minister D.K. Shivakumar. Interestingly, Mr Sriramulu didn't join the press conference although he was in Ballari. But he joined Mr Yeddyurappa in the party workers meeting.
