I am a victim of conspiracy scripted by Congress: Yeddyurappa

Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday said he wanted to bring in a "change" in his style of functioning in politics as he was a "victim of conspiracy hatched by the Congress, the Janata Dal - Secular and detractors within the Bharatiya Janata Party".

"I am a victim of conspiracy scripted by Congress, JD-S and detractors with my party. To avoid getting victimised in the future, I have to be changed, I need to be changed and I will be changed," he said at a meeting organised by his supporters.

Yeddyurappa claimed that the JD-S and Congress "tried to finish" his political career by levelling "baseless" allegations as he was gaining popularity by taking up development works across the state at a fast pace when he was the chief minister.

The former chief minister said he hoped that he would come out clean from all the allegations levelled against him by the opposition.

"In my over 40 year political career, unlike Abhimanyu, I have learnt the art of entering Chakravyuha and coming out of it. Nobody can dismantle me," he said.

Yeddyurappa claimed that it was he who tried to stop illegal mining in the state by bringing it to the notice of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"Instead of the prime minister honouring me, the Congress conspired against me by leveling baseless allegations," he said.

He also challenged former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde to fight a legal battle if he wished over the phone-tapping allegations made against him during the probe into illegal mining.

Stating that he was against forming a regional party, Yeddyurappa said he would work to strengthen BJP in the state and win the next elections.

"BJP works for the development of the state. I will try to strengthen it even further," he said.

There was a need for the party to induct new faces, he said, adding, "Youngsters are necessary to give a fresh impetus to the party".