Daijiworld Media Network - Putur (SP)

Puttur, Jul 8: Vehemently denying that the BJP has engineered the exodus of legislators from other parties to its fold, state BJP president and MP D V Sadanand Gowda (DVS) said that these legislators have chosen to support the BJP in support of the only agenda of the state's progress the chief minister is pursuing.

Speaking to reporters after visiting Puttur BJP office  on Monday July 7,where he held discussions with party workers over development programmes, Gowda pooh-poohed speculations over the intended move of some BJP legislators to join the Congress. He reiterated that the party did not lure or offer any posts to the MLAs to entice them into crossing over to the BJP.

In the past, development agenda was supported by all the parties concerned without any exception. But when the BJP government took a delegation to the prime minister on the fertiliser issue and giving classical status to Kannada, the Congress and the JD (S) which are disappointed over their loss of face in the elections, refused to be a part of the delegation, violating political code. The Prime Minister refused to lend an ear to veteran Kannada writers who had been taken to Delhi to present a strong case for giving classical status to Kannada. After observing all these developments, the legislators have leaned towards us, Gowda reasoned.

These legislators have joined BJP purely on development plank. "We have not talked to Siddarmaiah about his joining the BJP. The party will be reviewing the performance of ministers on a quarterly basis and take corrective steps if needed, in consultation with top leadership. The chief minister will take suitable decision on ministry expansion," Gowda explained.

Asserting that the proposed mini Vidhan Soudha will come up at the spot where the office of the Puttur assistant commissioner stands, Sadanand Gowda said the project will be executed properly by getting more grants whenever required. The government also wants to carve out Puttur district after Kadaba and Moodbidri are made separate taluks, he said. He promised to do more work on the front of tackling chikungunya disease.