Yedyyurappa to order probe into events leading to trust vote

Udupi - Beleaguered Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa today said he will order a judicial probe into the efforts by party rebels to destabilise the government.

Yeddyurappa, who had to face two floor tests in the assembly after 16 MLAs, including 11 from his party, withdrew support to the BJP's first ever government in the south, told reporters that the probe will be conducted by a retired high court judge.

After offering worship at the Kollur Mookambika temple near here, the Chief Minister said he would announce the judicial probe after the High Court pronounced its verdict on petitions by the 16 MLAs challenging their disqualification from the assembly membership.

A third judge of the court to whom the matter was referred after a split verdict by a two-member division Bench, has reserved his order on the disqualification of 11 BJP rebels. Another bench will hear on November 2 petitions filed by five independent MLAs.

Yeddyurappa accused the Opposition parties of making attempts to topple his government and warned them that the people will not tolerate such attempts.

"BJP government is an elected government. It should be allowed to complete its term in office", he said.

Meanwhile, in Mysore, Opposition Congress leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah claimed that over 30 Congress MLAs were approached by BJP leaders offering money and official positions to quit their Assembly membership and said he will soon come out with documentary evidence in this connection.

Congress MLAs S V Ramachandra and M Naryanasamy and a JDS MLA M C Aswath, have resigned their assembly membership in moves which the opposition says were engineered by BJP to reduce the opposition strength.

PTI - October 23, 2010