BSY may spoil BJP's poll prospects, says Shettar

 With former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa announcing his decision to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is understood to have on Tuesday warned the party central leadership that the Lingayat leader may dent the party prospects in the coming Assembly elections.

Shettar, who met BJP senior leader and Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Arun Jaitley here, is  learned to have explained the situation in the party state unit in the event of Yeddyurappa’s exit.

After quitting the BJP, Yeddyurappa may not gain much, but he would definitely damage the BJP’s prospects, Shettar  is said to have explained.

Yeddyurappa's decision of quitting the party was at the instigation of the Congress, Shettar told the senior party leader. Yeddyurappa, who is facing a CBI inquiry, is  hoping relief in future if he acts as per the wishes of the Congress, Shettar reportedly said.

Dismissing Yeddyurappa’s claim that over 40 MLAs and 10 MPs from BJP were with him, Shettar is learnt to have told Jaitley that only 10 MLAs and three MPs may go with him.

Refuting the claims of the former chief minister that he would form the next government, Shettar explained to the central leadership that in Karnataka's political history, no regional party had assumed power.

While asking Shettar to pull up the socks, Jaitley reportedly advised him to try to organise rallies to strengthen the party.