BS Yeddyurappa says he joined BJP to help Narendra Modi become Prime Minister

Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, B S Yeddyurappa, said on Friday that he rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) because he wants to help Narendra Modi become the prime minister of the country

Yeddyurappa met the state assembly Speaker for the merger of his party Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) with the BJP

"We have taken decision to merge KJP with the Bharatiya Janata Party and that same resolution has been handed over to the Speaker just now, and in the interest of the country and only hope in the country is Narendra Modi," he said

The BJP forced Yeddyurappa to resign as Karnataka's Chief Minister in July 2011 after ombudsman report indicted him in the illegal mining case

Sidelined by the BJP top leadership, he subsequently quit the party and formed KJP

Taking a dig at BJP, Congress leader Ambika Soni said the party's claim to fight corruption is completely hollow

"Their claim to fight and eradicate corruption sounds hollow. Yesterday (Thursday), Yeddyurappa has joined them. Has he suddenly become honest? They think that in the coming elections they are likely to benefit in two to four seats but they have ignored his corrupt image," said Ambika Soni in New Delhi

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) also echoed similar sentiments

"Their fight was incomplete without Yeddyurappa, now it will be complete. This is complete hypocrisy," added JD-U leader Shivanand Tiwari

In May 2013 assembly polls, the KJP had secured six seats and 10% vote share but it managed to unseat the first BJP state government in the state and the Congress party came to power.