Daijiworld Media Network - Chitradurga (SP)

Chitradurga, Jul 24: Referring to the demand made by former chief minister, Siddaramiaah, asking the BJP to choose a Dalit chief minister (CM) in place of Yediyurappa, minister K S Eshwarappa questioned the moral ground on which Siddarmaiah was making this demand. He questioned as to how many Dalits have been made chief ministers by the Congress regimes during the party's prolonged rule.

He was speaking to media persons about the challenge posed by Siddaramaiah to state BJP president, Nalin Kumar Kateel, to see that a Dalit is made the next chief minister. He opined that the Congress lacks moral right to give this advice, and challenged the Congress to declare that if it comes to power, it will choose a Dalit as the chief minister of Karnataka.

Eshwarappa said that patriotism, not caste, is the preferred quality and the BJP had many chief ministers who were Dalits. He also pointed out that the governor of Karnataka too is a Dalit. He blamed Siddaramaiah for blocking the chances of Parameshwar to become the chief minister of Karnataka.

On the charge made by Siddaramaiah that all the CM candidates from the BJP are corrupt, he retorted that the Congress was defeated because of its involvement of corruption on a large scale.

He recalled that Yediyurappa has expressed his decision follow the instructions which will be received from the national leadership of the party on July 25, on Monday. He dismissed statements made by minister, Yogeshwar, and legislators, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and Aravind Bellad.

Meanwhile, Akhila Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha president, N Thippanna, and MLA, Hartalu Halappa, expressed themselves against the removal of Yaediyurappa as chief minister. While Thippanna warned that Veerashaiva Lingayats will revolt if this happens, Halappa said that the BJP will suffer in Shivamogga district in such an eventuality.