LK did not back me: BSY

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In what could be termed a clear message to his loyalists who are seeking the postponement of the launch of new party, former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa stated that he was not dependent not on the support of leaders and would prefer to have the blessings of people to build his outfit.

Speaking at Basava-kalyan, where he participated in a religious function organised by Basava Dharma Peetha headed by Mathe Mahadevi, Yeddyurappa clarified that he was not pressurizing any leader to join his proposed party. “I have confidence in the support of people and I will launch the new party on December 10 as announced earlier”, he asserted.

He declined to comment on the observations made by BJP leader and columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni that there was a difference between the charges leveled against BJP national president Nitin Gadkari and those Yeddyurappa was facing. “ I don’t want to comment on Kulkarni’s statement. My dream is to build Kalyana Karnataka ,” he remarked.

When his attention was drawn to BJP leader L.K. Advani’s statement supporting Gadkari who is facing charges of corruption, Yeddyurappa said that he had met Advani twice and tried to convince him that the charges leveled against him were baseless. “But for reasons best known to him, he was not convinced. I would not like to make further comments on the issue”, he added.

Yeddyurappa termed as “mere speculation” media reports that RSS leaders had tried to retain him in the party.

When his attention was drawn to the criticism of his political moves by former chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Yeddyurappa quipped: “He (Gowda) had come to me with a request that he should be made KMF chairman, but I made him Chief Minister. The taste of power has made him to speak in the manner he is doing now”.

Later speaking at the function organized to inaugurate the 108 ft statue of 12th century social reformer Basavanna, Yeddyurappa said political leaders should rise above selfish motives. He referred to his decision as CM to celebrate Valimiki Jayanti and Kanaka Jayanti and said these were meant to give importance to all communities.

Ministers Shobha Karandlaje, Revu Naik Belamagi, Sunil Valyapure and Mathe Mahadevi of Basava Dharma Peetha participated in the function.