After failing a trust vote in the assembly in Karnataka earlier this week, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy rejected reports on Saturday that a section of his party’s legislators is in favour of providing outside support to the newly formed BJP government
Kumaraswamy was referring to a remark by Janata Dal-Secular legislator GT Devegowda who had claimed that some lawmakers talked of providing outside support to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s government in a party meeting on Friday.
“News about us having ties with the BJP has come to my notice. These are baseless and lawmakers and party workers should not heed to any of these rumours. It is far from the truth. We will continue our fight for the people and the fight will go on,” he tweeted.
Kumaraswamy was quoted by news agency PTI as saying, “We are going to play a constructive role. As a regional party, we will oppose where we have to oppose. That’s all. If you (Yediyurappa) do something good for the state, we will welcome it”.
“There is no big deal in saying so (to support BJP). His (GT Devegowda’s) intention was that the finance bill is passed (before July 31) because it was a budget presented by Kumaraswamy,” he added.
After failing the floor test on the confidence motion he moved on July 18 during the 10-day monsoon session to prove he had the majority, Kumaraswamy resigned on July 23. Accepting his resignation, the Governor told him not to take any policy or executive decisions as a caretaker Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Yediyurappa will take the trust vote on Monday.
This is Yediyurappa’s fourth stint as the chief minister. His last stint was simply two-days long. He resigned as Chief Minister of Karnataka, two days after he was administered the oath of office by Governor Vajubhai Vala.