BJP leaders with Peshwa lineage behind downfall of Yediyurappa govt: Kumaraswamy
Karwar: Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Friday claimed that some BJP leaders with the 'background of Peshwa lineage' in Delhi were behind the downfall of the Yediyurappa government in 2007.
Last week, Kumaraswamy accused the RSS of plotting to make Union minister Prahlad Joshi the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.
He launched a scathing attack on Joshi, alleging that he is part of the sect of Brahmins which has the 'background of Peshwa lineage' and perpetuated division in society.
Despite the controversy his statements have caused, Kumaraswamy has continued his criticism and pointed the finger at the 'Peshwa lineage' and "Peshwa DNA."
On Thursday, he revealed details about the JDS-BJP coalition government in 2006 and the factors that led to the downfall of the Yediyurappa government in 2007.
"If I hadn't partnered with Yediyurappa in 2005, his political career would have come to a halt," Kumaraswamy stated to reporters during his Pancharatna Yatra in Uttara Kannada on Thursday.
"In 2005, Yediyurappa sent me a letter asking to meet him. Siddalingaswamy brought it to me and I went to meet Yediyurappa. During our meeting, Yediyurappa confided in me about the shame that he was facing in the BJP and expressed his desire to become a minister from my party," Kumaraswamy added.
According to Kumaraswamy, the following day, Shobha Karandlaje and Ramachandra Gowda held discussions with Deve Gowda regarding the situation.
"I advised Yediyurappa not to resign from BJP as it would damage his reputation and leadership," he claimed.
According to Kumaraswamy, he was not the one behind forming the JD(S)-BJP coalition government.
'My father Deve Gowda had decided to dissolve the assembly after consulting Sonia Gandhi and had wanted to go for a fresh election. However, leaders like Yediyurappa, Govind Karjol, and C.M. Udasi contended that midterm elections would only benefit the Congress and so pushed for a temporary government, leading to the formation of the BJP-JD(S) coalition," he claimed.
"I never treated any BJP MLAs or ministers in my coalition cabinet with disrespect. I also maintained a good relationship with Yediyurappa, who was Deputy Chief Minister in our coalition government. In fact, our coalition government helped to strengthen the BJP," he stated.
"According to my agreement with the BJP, I intended to transfer power to them. However, the leaders within the BJP in Delhi with 'background of Peshwa lineage' were responsible for the downfall of the Yediyurappa government. Yediyurappa was once again mistreated when he came to power as the CM for the second time. It is widely known what transpired afterwards," Kumaraswamy claimed.
