Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkaballapur (SP)

Chikkaballapur, Nov 27: Former Karnataka chief minister, S M Krishna, said that 17 intelligent legislators had decided to resign in order to get rid of the ugly situation created in the state. He said he too had worked to convince these legislators to resign.

His statement has come as a surprise at a time when the general feeling one got was he had maintained distance from politics after crossing over to the BJP at the fag end of his political innings. Addressing a public meeting at Manchenahalli in Chikkaballapur constituency on Tuesday November 26, he severely criticized the functioning of the previous coalition government in the state.

"For 15 months, the state had to gone through bad period. Two parties which were fighting each other tooth and nail came together and formed the government. The government had a chief minister, a deputy chief minister, and a super chief minister," he commented. He said he is one of those who convinced Dr Sudhakar from this constituency to leave the party.

He recalled that the coalition government was fighting for survival each day and the government or its chief minister had no time to work for the development of the state. "The state did not see any development in any department. One could see only accusations against each other and raising of slogans. Sudhakar and 16 other intelligence legislators sacrificed their seats to change the situation. We should be grateful to them," he felt. He said that the BJP could not have formed the government but for the sacrifices of these people. He also urged the voters to strengthen the hands of B S Yediyurappa to see a responsible rule.

S M Krishna, a veteran statesman and former chief minister and Maharashtra governor, participated in the electioneering for the first time in this bypoll. He led a road show along with Sudhakar on Tuesday in the constituency.