New Delhi: With the saffron party pulling out all the stops to prevent its MLAs and workers from defecting to BS Yeddyurappa's newly formed Karnataka Janata Party, the former BJP Karnataka strongman is set to launch his new party on Sunday by organising a mammoth rally in Lingayat dominated Haveri on Sunday to prove his popularity hasn't waned. Yeddyurappa has claimed the support of 60 BJP MLAs, including several ministers.
Yeddyurappa on Saturday described as "vindictive" the party leadership's sacking of his loyalist and Cooperative Minister BJ Puttaswamy from the ministry and suspension of Tumkur MP GS Basavaraj. He dared BJP to dissolve the state assembly and face the people's mandate "if they have faith in democratic values".
Yeddyurappa said BJP was under the impression that such action against his loyalists could dissuade others from supporting him and added "the number of those attending tomorrow's Karnataka Janata party rally will increase by at least 50,000".
Puttaswamy said he had no regrets in being dismissed from the ministry but did not approve the method opted by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. "Had he asked me, I would have resigned voluntarily. I will continue to be a supporter of Yeddyurappa forever", he said. Basavaraj too welcomed the party action.
With additional information from PTI
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