Ex-CM likely to keep quiet till March 3

The next move of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has remained stoic after being snubbed by the party high command for claiming the chief minister’s post, has generated much curiosity.

The disgruntled BJP leader had set February 27 – the day when he will be celebrating 70th birthday -- as the deadline to the party high command to fulfill his demand.

He had threatened to go his way if the party fails to respond positively. But BJP President Nitin Gadkari not only turned down his demand recently, but dared him to quit the party. His next political move has aroused much interest in the wake of this development.

Yeddyurappa’s loyalists have lined up a series of programmes on the occasion of their leader’s birthday on Monday. Though his support base among the party leaders is said to be gradually dwindling, especially after his fiasco with Gadkari, his loyalists are planning to flaunt their leader’s clout among Lingayat pontiffs.

As many as 40 pontiffs of various Veerashiva mutts are likely to descend at his Race Course residence in the morning to bless the leader. He is, however, scheduled to personally visit Siddaganga Mutt to seek the blessings of Shivakumara Swami at 5.30 am. Besides, the Backward Classes Forum has scheduled a grand felicitation for him. Interestingly, the forum has not invited Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and State party chief K S Eshwarappa to the function.

Yeddyurappa is also likely to host a tea party to his loyalists later in the evening as planned earlier. In a recent luncheon meeting with the party MLAs, MLCs and MPs, Yeddyurappa had reportedly said that all those who would like to support him can attend the tea party, where he would announce the next political move.

But, sources said, he is unlikely to take any major decision till March 3, when Gadkari has convened the core committee meeting. The Lingayat strongman is said to be in a dilemma on whether to stay in the party or quit. His supporters are said to be divided in their opinion in this regard.

While some want him to quit the party, others, especially those who are holding some position in the government, are against it. So far, none of his supporters has openly offered to resign from the post she/he is holding both in the party and the government in support of his cause.