BENGALURU: Days after BJP and JD(S) came together with the common aim of ousting Prathap Chandra Shetty as chairman of the legislative council, CM BS Yediyurappa and his predecessor HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday spiked reports of any possibility of a merger of the parties.
In a statement, Yediyurappa said there was no question of admitting JD(S) legislators into BJP or working for a merger of the parties and said the understanding with JD(S) was limited to a one-off event to dislodge Shetty. “There is no occasion for any such development,” the statement read. He said opposition expressed by JD(S) to the controversial anti-cow slaughter legislation has forced BJP to look at the ordinance route, suggesting that the state party cannot be an ally on issues central to BJP.
Speculation has been rife in the past few months that Yediyurappa, if asked by BJP to resign as CM, may float a party with help from JD(S) in his bid to remain in power.