Sunday, August 7 2005 15:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: The on-going moves by Karnataka unit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form an alternative Government with Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) enjoyed the support of the party high command, Opposition BJP leader in the state assembly B S Yediyurappa announced today (August 7, 2005).

"The apprehensions of BJP that Congress is gearing up to call of its coalition ties with JDS and preparing to go to assembly elections prompted the party to explore the possibility of joining hands with JDS to prevent elections", Yediyurappa asserted while talking to reporters here.

"BJP high command is supporting the idea", he said and asked former prime minister and JDS chief H D Devegowda to come out openly and support his party to form the next government.

Yediyurappa categorically ruled out government making with Congress, declaring "no way. It would be only with JDS and not Congress".

Defending the BJP's attempt to install an alternative government with a view not to force a snap poll on the people, who are not ready for another election, Yediyurappa said after JDS ousted Siddaramaiah, Congress was toying with an idea to go for fresh polls, on the premise that its coalition partner party would become weak without the dismised leader and his supporters.

Rejecting reports in a section of the media that the BJP was headed for a split, he said "party is unanimous in joining hands with JDS to form the government. All the 79 MLAs are for it. There is no question of split in the party. We are united on this issue".

He said BJP Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and senior leader Ved Prakash Goyal were already in city and they would soon be joined by senior leaders Pramod Mahajan and Sanjay Joshi to hold talks with partymen on the next moves to be initiated.

Yediyurappa said he would be attending the Legisalture Party meeting convened later in the day by the state unit party president Jagadish Shettar to discuss the prevailing political situation.

He however, took exception Shettar's remarks, who sought to project him as the next chief minsiterial candidate, remarking "It is an insult to me. There are no elections now. Had the announcement come when elections were held, it would have a meaning. I am not after the Chief Minister's post. I am not bothered who would become the chief minister in the event of an alternative government is formed with JDS".

Giving an overview of the efforts that were on to topple the Congress-JDS coalition government Yediyurappa said, JDU national president George Fernandes had called on Gowda and held talks in this regard.

Earlier, Yediyurappa was closetted with party legislators at his official residence for a discussion.

BJP camp has been witnessing a flurry of activities in the aftermath of turmoil in JDS which culminated in sacking of Siddaramaiah and two ministers loyal to him.

He declined to comment if his differences with the party National General Secretary Ananthkumar had been sorted out.