By IANS,
Bangalore: Much relieved after winning a second trust vote in four days, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Thursday slammed the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) for trying to topple the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state.
“Attempts to destabilise my government by the opposition parties began soon after its formation in mid-2008. I hope they will desist from such attempts and allow us to complete our term to fulfil the promises made to the people,” Yeddyurappa told reporters after again winning the trust vote in the legislative assembly.
He said by proving majority on the floor of the house for the second time in four days, history was created in Indian democracy as no government was asked to take the floor test again and yet win.
Noting that as per the constitution, a government need not take another floor test in six months after facing one, Yeddyurappa said that he agreed to the trust vote again on the request of the governor (H.R. Bhardwaj) and advice of his party’s high command in New Delhi.
“The political crisis over a week when the opposition parties tried to topple an elected government has dented the fair image of the state and the people are hurt by such unfortunate developments. I deeply regret for what all happened,” Yeddyurappa lamented.
Asserting that his government would hereafter only work for the development of the state, the chief minister appealed to the opposition parties to forget the bitterness of the past and join him in the task of building a vibrant Karnataka.
Claiming that he knew which lobby was behind the latest bid to topple his government, Yeddyurappa asserted that he would not yield to such pressure.
Asked if he suspected the hand of the mining lobby in destabilising his 29-month-old government as he banned iron ore exports in late July, the chief minister declined to admit this or take names but left no one in doubt in replying to the query.
“It is well known which lobby attempted to topple my government with hundreds of crores of rupees and who was behind the opposition parties in plotting to overthrow us,” Yeddyurappa said.
On filling the vacancies caused by his dismissal of seven ministers, including five Independents and two BJP ministers for revolting against his government, the chief minister said he would think about it after the Dussehra festival and the Karnataka High Court judgment in the disqualification case of the 16 rebel legislators, including 11 from the ruling party.
“As the case is sub-judice, I would not like to comment on both now,” he added.