TNI Bureau: Former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa showed strength in a massive rally in Haveri, Karnataka today. BSY’s power play stunned the BJP, as at least 13 party MLAs openly backed him. Yeddyurappa launched his Karntaka Janata Party.
Even though the BJP cracked the whip and sacked BJ Puttaswamy from the ministry on Saturday, that failed to dent the morale of BSY supporters. The party also suspended Tumkur MP GS Basavaraju.
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BJP MLAs such as H Halappa, Nehru Olekar, BP Harish and CC Patil too attended BSY’s rally. Sunil Valyapure, who had resigned as the Minister, was also seen with Yeddyurappa. At least 21 MLAs, seven MLCs and four Lok Sabha MPs had attended a breakfast meeting hold by Yeddyurappa, signalling disaster for the BJP in Karnataka.
Yeddyurappa went aggressive while addressing the rally and dared CM Jagadish Shettar to dissolve the assembly and seek a fresh mandate. In the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, BJP has 118 MLAs, while Congress and JD-S have 71 and 26 MLAs respectively. Seven Independent MLAs can also play a key role if the government falls into crisis.