BS Yeddyurappa not returning to BJP? Great

The BJP’s local units in coastal Karnataka seem to be relieved over reports that the ex-BJP strongman and former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa will not return to the BJP, but will support Narendra Modi, who has been declared the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

The statement seems to have soothed the nerves of the coastal and Malnad BJP units, as many taluk and district units of the party were against his return to the BJP.

“The coastal units had very little impact even when Yeddyurappa was in the party. Whether he returns to the party or not will not make any difference to the party units in the coastal districts,” said Pratap Simha Nayak, president of Dakshina Kannada district BJP unit.

Urimajalu Ram Bhat, a senior BJP leader, said the party had grown not due to an individual, but because it had strong roots in the region. “But everything changed after the BJP came to power under Yeddyurappa.”

The party cadres at the district level accused Yeddyurappa of having his own coterie within the party, which is not the way the BJP works. Shobha Karandlaje, Renukacharya, Reddy brothers, CM Udasi and few others owed allegiance only to Yeddyurappa but not to the party.

“It is not acceptable to the party cadres that Yeddyurappa comes back to party and brings his baggage along,” said Sathish Kamath, a BJP worker in Ankola.