Karnataka: Cong takes dig at BJP for turning to Yediyurappa to lead anti-govt stir

Mangaluru: The Congress party decried BJP leaders for turning to former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to lead the protest against the state government.

After Yediyurappa led the protest organised at Freedom Park against Congress-led government’s failure to fulfill poll guarantees on Tuesday, the Congress party took a dig at the BJP through tweets.

Accusing the BJP of ousting BSY from the CM post and now relying on him to fight against the Congress-led government, the Congress party questioned the BJP's motives.

"The Karnataka BJP, unable to elect a leader of the opposition, has once again turned to BS Yediyurappa, who was earlier pushed back from politics. The BJP tends to hold onto a leg when necessary and pull it when it is not," the Congress tweeted.

Highlighting Yediyurappa's emotional response when he quit the Chief Ministerial post, the Congress questioned how the BJP treated him.

"Yediyurappa shed tears when he was removed from the post. Later BJP cited his age as the reason. But now, he is left to sit under the sun and rain at Freedom Park. Was his age a factor only when it came to ruling? Is he suddenly 18 now?" the Congress asked, targeting BJP leaders directly.

The Congress also questioned the BJP's treatment of Yediyurappa, asking if he was considered as a tissue paper, used when needed and discarded when not in use.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders have defended Yediyurappa's role in the protest.

"Yediyurappa ji is all-time leader of BJP. He was not ousted. Due to the party’s policy on leaders’ age, he himself quit and decided to stay away from electoral politics," Mysore Electrical Industries former chairman Uday Kumar Shetty told Deccan Chronicle.

"As a senior leader of the party in the state he has taken the lead in protesting against the state government. Congress is unnecessarily attacking BJP," he added.