JD(S), BJP MLAs elect Yeddi as leader

Bangalore, Oct 29: One Hundred and Twenty nine legislators of Janata Dal (Secular) and BJP today elected BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa as their leader and met Governor Rameshwar Thakur to prevail upon him to invite the new leader to form a new government. The legislators, who came in four private buses, earlier met at a hotel and elected Mr Yeddyurappa as their leader. A copy of the resolution passed at the meeting was also submitted to the Governor.

The Governor gave a patient hearing to their plea and assured them that he would do the needful by sending a report to the Centre soon.

Later, emerging from the meeting, JD(S) state unit Chief Meerajuddin Patel and BJP state unit President Sadananda Gowda told the media that they were hopeful that the Governor would invite Mr Yeddyurappa to form the new government within 24 hours. The JD(S) also submitted a letter to the Governor separately expressing unconditional support to BJP to form the government.

Earlier in the day, senior JD (S) leader M P Prakash, who had raised the banner of revolt, met the Governor and brought to his notice that any effort to invite BJP to form a government would be inappropriate as JD(S) had not adopted the right procedure to extend support to BJP. However, the leaders of both JD(S) and BJP brushed aside his suggestion and said there should not be a problem in forming a new government as they had sufficient numbers. They had submitted individual letters of support by the legislators to the Governor.

UNI