DON'T try to run me down, Yeddyurappa warns BJP

Former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who formally quit the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday to form the Karnataka Janata Party, issued a stern warning to the BJP stating that he would not tolerate it if they tried to run him down or his supporters.

Addressing a packed press conference in Bangalore on Friday, Yeddyurappa said that he has no intention of pulling down the government and would like it to complete its full term.

"However, the BJP will face the consequences if at all they try and run me down," he warned.

"I do not want to be blamed for pulling down the government. It still has five months remaining and I wish them all the best to complete their term. I have told all my supporters in the BJP to stay on in the party and complete their term. I have also told them not to come for the event at Haveri on December 9 where I would launch the new party under the presidentship of Dhananjay Kumar. Do your work, complete your term and join me later is what I have told all of them," the influential Lingayat leader said.

Yeddyurappa further stated that he is a man of his word. "Many had raised doubts over whether I would resign from the party. My mind was made up long back and I was hurt by the turn of events in the party and hence decided to quit. I always follow what I preach and I did just that this time too," he said.

"I want to start a new chapter and want to work for the people of Karnataka. I have worked selflessly for the BJP and never expected any position. I have served in all positions in the party. The party has given me everything, but there are people in the party who have let me down, backstabbed me and thought that by pulling me down, they can build their future," he said.

"The Karnataka Janata Party will address the concerns of the people. We will contest all the 224 seats in the state and I have already set up a dedicated team which will work on the manifesto of the party. The idea is to make Karnataka a model state and I want to return to the Vidhan Soudha from where I could serve the people of the state," he added.

At the press conference B S Yeddyurappa also released the party flag. The flag which has the picture of B S Yeddyurappa at the centre has the colours yellow, white and green on it.

Yeddyurappa announced that he would be flying to New Delhi on Friday night from where he would leave for Vaishno Devi to offer prayers. He would return in a couple of days and then commence work on his new party.