I am not Yeddyurappa’s proxy, asserts Gowda

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bangalore, Aug 4, 2011: New Karnataka Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Thursday asserted that it was wrong to say that he would do whatever his predecessor B.S. Yeddyurappa wants.

"Time will give answer," he said at his first press conference shortly after taking oath as Bharatiya Janata Party’s second chief minister in a little over three years. On Yeddyurappa’s statements that he would be back as chief minister within six months, Gowda said it was not wise to talk about the future in politics.

"Many have said that they will rule for five years but had to leave office earlier for some reason or the other," said Gowda, who will be in office for only 22 months as the term of the assembly expires May 2013.

Yeddyurappa, who quit on Sunday after being indicted by Lokayukta in the illegal mining scam, had told senior officials at a farewell party that he would be back in six months.

Gowda, who took oath of office and secrecy alone, said he would finalise his ministry after talks with all legislators and senior state and central party leaders in "two or three or four days".

Referring to boycott of the swearing-in ceremony by former rural development minister Jagadish Shettar, who he defeated narrowly Wednesday to become the chief minister, Gowda said many could not come because of various reasons. However, he asserted that he would take all legislators along.

"Shettar invited me for tea this (Thursday) morning. We had good discussions," he said. Shettar had called a meeting of legislators, who backed him in the Wednesday elections, at his residence Thursday morning to firm up their next course of action.

Gowda praised Yeddyurappa, saying he had in the last three years had launched several pro-people development policies. "I have resolved to make a determined effort for the development of the state with the cooperation of all our legislators, party leaders and opposition parties," he added.

Courtesy: Deccan Herald