Ballari: In perhaps the first admission by a senior BJP leader, Molakalmur MLA B Sriramulu said that the 17 disqualified Congress and JD(S) MLAs had helped the BJP come to power in the state. The BJP had consistently denied any role in the toppling of the Congress-JD(S) government led by Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy.
“In turn, we need to accommodate them in the cabinet when it is formed” Mr Sriramulu said while speaking to reporters here on Friday. The coalition government collapsed last week after it failed to muster the number s required to win the confidence motion moved by Mr Kumaraswamy with the rebel MLAs refusing to turn up in the assembly to support the government.
In reply to a question, Mr Sriramulu said the BJP high command will take a final decision on giving party tickets to the rebel legislators in the event of by-elections to the 17 assembly segments vacated by them.
To a question on his chances of getting elevated as Deputy CM, Mr Sriramulu said, “I will not comment on this matter as it is the discretion of the high command.”
He stressed that he belongs to the entire state and all communities adding, “the question of me representing a particular district or community does not arise at all.”
