Hubballi (Karnataka): Reacting to the viral video, where Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said that the defection of MLAs and collapse of Cong - JD (S) coalition government happened with the party high command's supervision, the Karnataka Chief minister told ETV Bharat he had to talk tough on some 'light talks'.
In the video that has gone viral, Yediyurappa purportedly says that the decision of the 17 JD-S and Congress MLAs to resign, which led to the fall of the HD Kumaraswamy-led government in July, was taken by the central leadership of the BJP and that party worker should honour the "sacrifice" of the rebel MLAs.
The video was allegedly shot during his meeting with party leaders in Hubballi on October 26.
"Today, I did not feel that you people are trying to save this government after the way you spoke... We did not speak about the issue of disqualified MLAs till now because we are expecting the Supreme Court judgement. We are expecting they may get relief from the court and they will get a chance to contest," he is heard saying in the video.
According to party sources Yediyurappa, being upset after some leaders demanded that tickets be given to party loyalists and not to the disqualified MLAs.
In the leaked video he is alleged saying that the disqualified MLAs are the reason for 'the party coming to power'.
Yediyurappa in an emotional outburst said that he felt like having committed a crime by making rebels trust him.
Karnataka CM while talking to ETV Bharat on the viral video matter said that "I had to talk hard on the light talks." Not elaborating into it, he said, "when some light talks came about a taluk, I have to talk strongly in my style. Only so much".
When ETV Bharat reporter asked if the rebel MLAs will be given the seat to contest by-elections in their respective seats or any other party loyalists will be given opportunity, Yediyurappa said that they will discuss with the party high command and decide based on the SC verdict as well.
Commenting on the future of the government hanging on the SC judgement on rebel MLAs, Yediyurappa said that, "I am not interested to comment on this. We shall wait for the Supreme Court judgement on November 5 and take further decision on it".
The Supreme Court last month reserved its verdict on petitions of 15 Karnataka MLAs challenging their disqualification by the state Assembly Speaker ahead of a floor test in June this year.
The 17 MLAs were disqualified in July by then Karnataka Assembly speaker Ramesh Kumar and were barred from contesting polls for the duration of the assembly which ends in 2023.
The Election Commission had earlier deferred the assembly by-polls in Karnataka to December 5 as the case pertaining to the disqualification of 17 MLAs was being heard in the Supreme Court.
Following their resignations, a number of Congress and JDS MLAs stayed at a hotel in Mumbai. Yediyurappa took oath as Chief Minister on July 26 after the coalition government led by Kumaraswamy failed to win the trust vote.
Also Read: Congress hits out at BJP following Yediyurappa's viral video
