Illegal mining scam: Karnataka CM Gowda backs Yeddyurappa

New Delhi, Aug 10 (ANI): The newly elected Karnataka Chief Minister, DV Sadananda Gowda, on Wednesday came out in full support of his predecessor B.S Yeddyurappa, who stepped down from his post after being indicted in Lokayukta Justice (retired) N. Santosh Hedge's report on illegal mining.

"Practically, his name is no where appeared in the report. It is quit clear. The report is in the public domain, you can go through it; his name is not there. His son's name is there and also no indictment as far as his name is concerned. We have taken the legal opinion and only afterwards we will precede it further," Gowda told mediapersons during his first visit to New Delhi after being sworn-in as the chief minister of Karnataka.

Gowda said that the legal opinions are in process against Yeddyurappa and the case will proceed according to the investigating process.

Gowda further said that he had come to Delhi to discuss the prevailing political situation of Karnataka with the senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"My objective is to carry forward the vision of the previous government that is catalysing the process of development while maintaining law and order, across the state. I have conveyed the same feeling to my cabinet colleagues also. Our state is also in second position in over all development," said Gowda.

"We intend to take Karnataka to number one position in the country through committed efforts. I fully believe that this will be possible with the support and cooperation of the people of my state, my cabinet colleagues and learned fronts from then media," he added.

Commenting on his new responsibilities as the chief minister, Gowda said that he was grateful to the people of Karnataka and to his party members for supporting him.

"I am grateful to the people of Karnataka, state and national leaders of my party for this honour. I took oath of the office on (August 4) and the cabinet was expanded August 8 with the induction of 21 ministers," said Gowda.

"There will be one more expansion of the cabinet, I have already consulted the senior leaders of my party in Delhi, I will be back to Bangalore then I will consult the senior leaders of my party in the state and within a fortnight, I would like to complete the rest of the ministers to my cabinet," he added.

Karnataka Governor H.R. Bharadwaj administered the oath of office and secrecy to 21 new ministers in a function held at the Raj Bhavan on August 8.

The ministers, who took the oath of office are Jagadish Shettar, V S Acharya, R Ashoka, C M Udasi, C C Patil, Govind Karjol, M P Renukacharya, S Suresh Kumar, Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, J Krishna Palemar, Shobha Karndlaje, S A Ravindranath, Umesh Katti, Murugesh Nirani, S A Ramdas, Laxman Savadi, Revenunaik Belamagi, V Somanna, A Naryanaswamy, Basavaraj Bommai and B N Bacchegowda. (ANI)