Shettar-bashing amid cheers

“Go to the Janata Nyayalaya (people’s court) to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate,” former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa told Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Sunday.

“We don’t want the Shettar government. Let us go before the people to get their blessings,” Yeddyurappa said amid a thunderous applause from the audience. The 25-minute speech by the former CM was meant to attack the BJP and its leaders. The audience cheered every word uttered by Yeddyurappa against the BJP.

Addressing a mammoth gathering at the KLE Society’s Gudleppa Hallikeri grounds here, Yeddyurappa said he made Shettar chief minister to give representation to North Karnataka. Instead of being loyal to him, Shettar joined hands with other BJP leaders to target him and his loyalists.

“I will not tolerate this kind of attitude. I demand that Shettar tender his resignation and face elections to the Assembly to see whom the voters will elect.” Reiterating his 40-year contribution to build up the BJP in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said he gave his blood and sweat to install the BJP government for the first time in South India. “Unable to tolerate my steady growth, some party leaders conspired to finish me off politically. They tortured, snubbed and stabbed me in the back,” he said. In a choked voice, Yeddyurappa said Sunday was the most memorable day of his life thanks to the love and affection shown by the large number of people who came to Haveri. “I am indebted to this,” he said.