Karnataka CM to release proof on Cong, JD(S) regime scams

BANGALORE: Battling allegations of corruption and nepotism, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said he would soon release "documentary evidence" on scams during the Congress and Janta Dal (Secular) regimes in the state.

"I am now ready with documents. The question crossing my mind now is whether I should release them before the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections or later", he told reporters in Bangalore.

Yeddyurappa, who has been warned by the party top brass to mend his style of functioning, is under pressure to ensure BJP fares well in the December 26 and 31 polls to 30 Zilla panchayats and 176 Taluk panchayats, amid reports that his continuance hinges on the poll outcome.

"They (Congress and JD-S) are champions of land scams, denotification of lands and illegal mining. But they are trying to project me as a major culprit by sowing poisonous seeds in the minds of people. They will never succeed", he said.

Yeddyurappa said the opposition parties had failed to prove charges of corruption against him.

The chief minister has come under sustained attack from the opposition, particularly JD (S), which released several documents on denotification of lands and allotment of lands by Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to Yeddyurappa's kith and kin.

Yeddyurappa claimed Congress and JD (S) hurled charges against him fearing that if he was allowed to complete his term, it would spell doom for both the parties and BJP would emerge stronger.

On how BJP would face people in the panchayat polls when the government was reeling under scandals, he said "the scams will have no impact on the polls. Let the Opposition go before people with their allegations and we will fight on development plank".

"I am sure BJP will be ahead of its rivals in the panchayat polls," Yeddyurappa said.

Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat leader, who managed to drum up support of his community leaders when attempts were made to ease him out of office in November, hit back at the Opposition, saying "they indulge in caste politics".