CM BSY brushes aside speculation of JD(S) joining K’taka govt

PTI, Sep 18, 2020, 4:03 PM IST

New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday brushed aside speculation of Janata Dal (Secular) joining the state government or extending any support.

The chief minister, who is in the national capital on a three-day tour, dismissed such reports that emerged after JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy recently met him to discuss “development-related works.”

“It is all speculation, there is no truth in it. As one of the leaders of the Opposition party, Kumaraswamy had recently met me to discuss development-related works. There was no political issue discussed in that meeting,” Yediyurappa told reporters here when asked about the reports.

He said his party BJP has a comfortable majority in Karnataka and does not require any support from JD(S).

Yediyurappa also refuted the Opposition’s charge that his son and BJP state vice-president B Y Vijayendra was acting like a “super CM.” He said Vijayendra was focusing on the party works and not interfering in the functioning of the government.

“Some of the opposition leaders are making baseless allegations out of jealousy looking at his political growth,” Yediyurappa said.

He said he would discuss the expansion of the Cabinet with party president J P Nadda later during the day.

Yediyurappa also held a discussion with BJP National General Secretary B L Santosh.

Earlier during the day, the chief minister called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union Ministers to discuss development works related to the state, according to an official statement.

Yediyurappa called on Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar at the Parliament House and requested for early grant of the ”Terms of Reference” for the Mekedatu project.

He later met Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and urged the government to declare Upper Krishna Project Stage-III and Upper Bhadra Project as National Projects, the statement said.

The chief minister also requested for early approvals and clearances for irrigation and drinking water projects including Mekedatu and Kalasa Banduri Nala to utilise the water resources allocated to the State.

He also called on Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and requested him to expedite the process of disinvestment of the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited, it said.

On September 17, Yediyurappa had met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as well as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

With the speculation that the chief minister may undergo cabinet expansion, several leaders from the State including former ministers H Vishwanath and MP Renukacharya have come to the national capital.