BSY’s decision to stay away from the BJP’s campaign in Chikmagalur-Udupi Lok Sabha by-poll has set tongues wagging.
Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s decision to stay away from the BJP’s campaign in Chikmagalur-Udupi Lok Sabha by-poll has set tongues wagging, what with the JD(S) accusing the former chief minister of striking a pact with the Congress to defeat the BJP candidate Sunil Kumar.
“Yeddyurappa is determined to settle political scores with chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda by ensuring the BJP candidate’s defeat in the by-poll. Yeddyurappa has been sending a message for Veerashaiva voters in the constituency to vote for Congress candidate Jayaprakash Hegde in the by-poll,” said JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti.
Horatti, who was campaigning in Chikmagalur on Sunday, said Yeddyurappa would avenge the insult heaped on him by the BJP top brass by not reinstating him. The defeat of the BJP candidate will also cause big humiliation to Gowda, as he was representing the constituency till he became the chief minister.
Yeddyurappa, who was felicitated by his loyalists at a rally in Hubli on Sunday, declared that he would not participate in the campaigning in Chikmagalur-Udupi. Taking an indirect dig at Gowda—who, while reacting to the high court quashing the FIR against Yeddyurappa in mining case, had stated that Yeddyurappa was facing seven or eight cases—Yeddyurappa said: “I will not campaign in Chikmagalur-Udupi. I am facing seven or eight more corruption cases and my presence there will embarrass Gowda and BJP state president KS Eshwarappa.”
Yeddyurappa said the Hubli rally was not a show of his political strength and declared that 10 such rallies would be held across the state. He denied reports of accepting the post of BJP state president, thus indirectly making it clear that he would settle for nothing short of the chief minister’s post.
‘We’re with you’
His loyalists were more vocal in expressing their wish to see Yeddyurappa as the chief minister again. Energy minister Shobha Karandlaje, addressing the rally in Hubli, said the BJP came to power in the state because of Yeddyurappa’s work over the past 40 years and he should be accorded a suitable post as he had come clean following the Lokayukta’s charges. She assured Yeddyurappa that his loyalists would support whatever decision he took on his future course of action.
Ministers Basavaraj Bommai, Jagadish Shettar, MP Renukacharya, R Ashoka, Karandlaje, CM Udasi, Murugesh Nirani, apart from over more than BJP legislators, participated in the rally. They vowed to extend their full support to Yeddyurappa, come what may in his political struggle to regain his position in state politics.
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