After BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa on Sunday admitted to having met Gurmitkal legislator Naganagouda Kandkur’s son Sharanagouda, the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition leaders, including Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, sought Mr. Yeddyurappa’s retirement from politics as he had promised earlier.
The reaction came as Mr. Yeddyurappa — taking many in political circles by surprise — did a U-turn from his stated position that he had not met Mr. Sharanagouda.
Having denied Mr. Kumaraswamy’s accusations, Mr. Yeddyurappa had termed the audio clip, released by the Chief Minister, as fabricated and had said that he would resign if it was genuine. Mr. Kumaraswamy, speaking to presspersons in Bengaluru on Sunday, said: “He should now stick to his word and retire from politics.”
He also clarified that he had not planned anything. “When Mr. Sharanagouda called me, I asked him to go and check it out. He recorded the conversation that I played before the media. I did not strategise on the recording,” he added.
“Yeddyurappa, who had promised to retire (from politics) if it was proved that the voice in the audio was his, should first announce retirement and walk the talk,” the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted.
Other leaders also asked Mr. Yeddyurappa to retire from politics. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara told reporters in Tumakuru that he will also lodge a complaint with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to cancel the House membership of Mr. Yeddyurappa, who has been elected from Shikaripur constituency.
KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao said that he should now face legal action. In a tweet, he also said that if BJP had an iota of morality it should sack Mr. Yeddyurappa.
“But the important question is who is funding this ₹200 crore operation? What is the source of funds? Is this black money sourced from friends of ModiShah,” he tweeted.
The Janata Dal (Secular) spokesperson and MLC, T.A. Sharavana, also urged Mr. Yeddyurappa to retire from politics.