Will introspect on by-poll defeat: Yeddyurappa

Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Sunday expressed willingness to introspect on the defeat of the BJP candidate in the recently held by-election for Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency.

However, during a visit to Gulbarga, he rejected the view that the BJP lost because of his refusal to campaign. “I stayed away from campaigning after chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda pointed out that I’m facing other corruption cases after I was cleared of the Lokayukta FIR on illegal mining. I did not want to embarrass the CM and the party by campaigning when they saw me as a tainted man,” Yeddyurappa said.

However, he expressed willingness to introspect on the BJP’s defeat. He said he was ready to discuss the issue with the chief minister and state BJP president KS Eshwarappa.
Yeddyurappa said he had no regrets on making Gowda the chief minister eight months ago.

Replying to a query on resort politics, Yeddyurappa said he was averse to resort politics. “However, the circumstances forced us to head to a resort,” he said.