Karnataka BJP MPs meet Advani, demand rehabilitation for Yeddyurappa

Karnataka BJP MPs from the BS Yeddyurappa camp today met party leader LK Advani to press for the former chief minister's rehabilitation, insisting that only he could lead the party to victory in the next elections.

The 12 parliamentarians also submitted a letter signed by 17 MPs stating that the party was going downhill in the state since Yeddyurappa had to step down.

The party has 19 MPs from Karnataka in the Lok Sabha.

The MPs demanded that Yeddyurappa, a prominent leader of the dominant Lingayat community that is loyal to the BJP, be reinstated as chief minister or made state unit president as he is the best bet to ensure the party's return to power.

Sources close to Advani said he heard the MPs and then asked them to meet party president Nitin Gadkari on the issue.

Among those who signed the letter are Yeddyurappa's son and MP BY Raghvendra, Bellary MP and Reddy Brothers associate J Shantha, PC Mohan, Ramesh Katti, Shivkumar Udasi, PC Gaddigoudar, DB Chandra Gowda, Suresh Angadi, Janardhan Swamy, GM Siddeshwara, S Pakkirappa, GS Basavraj, Shivarama Gouda and NK Kateel.

Three of the 17 signatories - Prabhakar Kore, KB Shanappa, and Aayanur Manjunath - are from the Rajya Sabha.

Yeddyurappa had to step down from the post of chief minister on July 28 after he was indicted by the Karnataka Lokayukta in an illegal land allotment case. He was also jailed for a few weeks in graft cases.