SHIMOGA (Karnataka): Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said he wanted to bring in a "change" in his style of functioning in politics as he was a "victim of conspiracy hatched by Congress, JD(S )and detractors within BJP".
"I am a victim of conspiracy scripted by Congress, JDS and detractors with my party. To avoid getting victimised in future, I have to be changed, I need to be changed and I will be changed," he said at a meeting organised by his supporters here.
Yeddyurappa claimed that JD(S) and Congress "tried to finish" his political career by levelling "baseless" allegations as he was gaining popularity by taking up development works across the state at a fast pace when he was the chief minister.
The former chief minister said he hoped that he would come out clean from all the allegations levelled against him by the opposition.
"In my over 40 year political career, unlike Abhimanyu, I have learnt the art of entering Chakravyuha and coming out of it. Nobody can dismantle me," he said.
Yeddyurappa claimed that it was he who tried to stop illegal mining in the state by bringing it to the notice of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "Instead of the Prime Minister honouring me, the Congress conspired against me by levelling baseless allegations," he said.
He also challenged former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde to fight a legal battle if he wished over phone tapping allegations made against him during illegal mining probe.
Stating that he was against forming a regional party, Yeddyurappa said he would work to strengthen BJP in the state and win the next elections.
"BJP works for the development of the state. I will try to strengthen it even further". However, there is need for the party to induct new faces, he said, adding, "youngsters are necessary to give a fresh impetus to the party".
Asked about former Prime Minister and JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda, Yeddyurappa said: "Why do you want to open my mouth now. You ask me this question after a week I will be eager to answer."
He alleged that Deve Gowda dreamt of removing him from the Chief Minister’s chair so as to stall his growing popularity for taking up various developmental works which would have affected JD(S) electoral prospects. "Deve Gowda achieved his dream by seeing me resigning as Chief Minister," he said.
Asked if he would play caste politics in the wake of Vokkaliga community reportedly expressing ire over his reported attempts to upstage Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Yeddyurappa said in his four decades in politics, he has never played the caste-card to win elections or support.
Yeddyurappa said he had shaped many schemes for all sections of the communities including Dalits, Backward Classes and minorities. He also said he allocated more funds to these communities in the budget when he was Chief Minister.
“Is there any government in the country which has given grants in the budget the way I have given to all sections of the society? Can you smell that I had played caste politics? There is no need for me to do so,” he said.
Asked what should be the party’s roadmap to make a mark in Vokkaliga belt in future elections, Yeddyurappa lobbed the ball in the Chief Minister and State BJP President K S Eshwarappa’s court. "This question should be asked to Eshwarappa and Gowda," he asked.
Commenting on UPA government’s "inadequate" response to tackle drought situation in the state, Yeddyurappa said e Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should hold talks with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and convene a meeting of chief ministers of all drought-hit states to find a solution.
He alleged that the Congress-led UPA did not have time for solving BJP-ruled governments’ problems and also was not keen as it was busy with recent Rajya Sabha elections in the wake of their allies losing faith with it.