Oust the illegitimate, corrupt BJP govt, not CM alone, says ex-CM Siddharamiah

Alleging that the BJP government in Karnataka was "illegitimate as it was born out of defection and corruption, the main opposition party wondered whether changing the face would also change the government's ''diabolical character''.

Bengaluru:The Congress in Karnataka on Monday demanded the ouster of the BJP government in Karnataka instead of the party finding a replacement for Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa who has resigned.

Alleging that the BJP government in Karnataka was "illegitimate as it was born out of defection and corruption, the main opposition party wondered whether changing the face would also change the government's ''diabolical character''.

"There is no benefit for the common man if one corrupt CM is removed to make another corrupt one a CM. Instead, the whole BJP party, which is responsible for the miseries of people, should be ousted," former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, tweeted.

Reacting to Yediyurappa''s resignation, he said "the power politics" in BJP is unfortunate when people are suffering due to natural calamities.

"Crops have been destroyed in many districts due to floods & nine people have lost their lives. It is unfortunate that the representatives of the govt are busy in power politics instead of helping the people in distress," the Congress stalwart said.

The Congress national general secretary and party's Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the malady is with BJP''s corrupt government and appalling maladministration in Karnataka, for it is an illegitimate government born out of ''defection and corruption''.

"Will merely changing the face change the diabolical character of BJP Govt synonymous with mal governance & decay," Surjewala said in his tweet.

"The ignominy, torment & insult being heaped upon Sh. B S Yediyurappa by Modi ji, dictating him to tender his resignation, makes him PMs latest victim and member of the ''forced retirement club''," Surjewala tweeted.

In his reaction to Yediyurappa''s resignation, the Congress state president D K Shivakumar said the Chief Minister should explain why he turned emotional and choked when he announced his resignation.

"It is not Yediyurappa who was crying but the state and its chief minister were in tears. We opposition parties are different but he represents the government. That's why Yediyurappa should explain whether he was crying, the state was crying or the party was crying," Shivakumar told reporters here.

While announcing his resignation, an emotional Yediyurappa pointed out that a few MLAs from his party were not happy with him, sending out a signal that he was upset with their statements.

Most vocal among the BJP legislators was Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who had predicted the exit of Yediyurappa, alleging that he and his family members were involved in corruption.

Targeting Yediyurappa, his MP-son B Y Raghavendra and BJP state vice president B Y Vijayendra, Yatnal had even asked the BJP central leadership to end the "dynastic politics" in Karnataka BJP.

MLC A H Vishwanath had also repeatedly demanded Yediyurappa''s resignation.

PTI