Siddaramaiah governing like a dictator: Yeddyurappa

The former CM says Siddaramaiah's actions have isolated him within his own party and legislators

Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was governing the state like a "dictator" and it had isolated him within his own party and legislators.

"Siddaramaiah is governing the state as a dictator and not taking his party legislators and ministers into confidence before implementing any scheme. He has been isolated by his own partymen over several issues including Shaadi Bhagya Yojana," the Karnataka Janatha Paksha supremo said.

Yeddyurappa was speaking to reporters in the lobby of the Assembly here as he continued his dharna in the well of the House for the second consecutive night last night and today also persisting with his demand that the government extend to all communities its scheme to provide Rs 50,OOO marriage assistance as given to poor Muslim girls.

The Karnataka Janatha Paksha chief's comments come in the wake of reports that Siddaramaiah faced tough questions from a section of his party legislators, especially Muslims, over several issues including Shaadi Bhagya yojana at the Congress Legislature Party meeting here yesterday.

Yeddyurappa said he would continue the night-long dharna till the end of the 10-day winter session of the legislature which began here on November 25, until the Chief Minister accedes to his demand.

He asked Siddaramaiah to convene a meeting of opposition party leaders to discuss his demand on Shaadi Bhagya yojana. "I will abide by the decision taken at the meeting," he said.

During the question hour in the Assembly today, Housing Minister M H Ambareesh made efforts to convince Yeddyurappa and escorted him to the seat, but the KJP leader sat for few seconds and returned to the well and continued his dharna.

Yeddyurappa had staged a 26-day-old dharna in Bangalore and shifted his protest to Belgaum. He refused to come out even after the House was adjourned on Monday evening.