Yeddyurappa announced that he would not participate in campaigning for party candidate Gadi Lingappa, who is pitted against former health minister Sriramulu.
The fissures within the BJP is widening by the day and it suffered yet another jolt on Sunday as former chief minister BS
Yeddyurappa announced that he would not participate in campaigning for party candidate Gadi Lingappa, who is pitted against former health minister Sriramulu.
Sriramulu is contesting as an Independent in the Bellary Rural by-polls on November 30. Yeddyurappa, who was in Hubli to attend a function, declined to explain the reasons for his decision, but he said: “There are some unavoidable reasons that compelled me to stay away when the BJP candidate filed his nominations and I will not participate in the campaigning too. However, all other ministers and leaders will participate in the campaigning.”
The decision comes as a surprise for party loyalists who recall how Yeddyurappa was at the forefront of the campaign during similar by-poll in Koppal.
Yeddyurappa’s decision is being seen as a deliberate ploy to make the party leadership understand his importance in the party.
Yeddyurappa termed the by-poll as very significant and expressed confidence that the BJP would win it. He denied reports of a rift in BJP and said: “I am not participating in the campaigning due to unavoidable reasons. That does not mean that there is groupism in the party. All other leaders will participate in the campaigning. BJP candidate Gadi Lingappa will score a big win.”
He ruled out the possibility of a mid-term poll in the state and said the government would complete its full term.
The opposition, which is predicting a snap poll, would be disappointed, he said.
Yeddyurappa also denied reports that he was lobbying to head the party state unit. “I am neither trying to become the chief minister nor BJP state president. I will work as an ordinary party worker and MLA of Shikaripur,” he said.
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