BSY cabinet was collective decision: BJP

Sources said Gadkari spoke to both Swaraj and Jaitley — who chose to remain silent — as well as Singh. “It is the considered position of the BJP that all our cabinet ministers in Karnataka government are the unanimous choice of the party,both central as well as the state… Therefore,there is absolutely no question of any individual or individuals influencing this process in any particular manner,” said Gadkari’s statement issued later in the day.

Gadkari neither mentioned Swaraj’s name nor referred to her exact remarks. He,however,said “any debate about the choice of ministers in Karnataka at this stage in the media is totally unnecessary”.

“If someone wants to fix responsibility,they can fix the responsibility on me. I don’t hold Sushmaji and Arunji responsible for it. There were some political compulsions that we had to take this decision,” Singh said.

Swaraj had told Outlook she had no hand in the political rise of Bellary brothers and nothing to do in making them ministers. In her words,“When the Bellary brothers were made ministers,Jaitelyji was the prabhari,Yediyurappa was the chief minister,Venkaiahji and Ananth Kumar were there as senior leaders…”

‘Why is BJP dancing to BSY,Reddy?’

The Congress sought to fish in troubled waters asking the BJP why it dances “to the tune of Yeddyurappa and Reddy”. “Swaraj’s assertions once again underscores the fundamental reality of BJP that money talks and Yeddy and Reddy walk… The question is not who opposed Yeddyurappa and Reddy. The question is why at all they were appointed… BJP must answer why the infrastructure of corruption has been institutionalised in Karnataka and why the party dances to the tune of Yeddyurappa and Reddy,” said spokesperson Manish Tewari.