Congress ambivalent on possibility of taking in Yeddyurappa

Congress today remained ambivalent on questions whether it was open to admitting controversial former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa into its fold.

"It would be better if this question is directed to Yeddyuruppa himself. I am not aware of any such development. That is a hypothetical question. I do not want to answer that now," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury told reporters.

She was replying to a host of questions including whether sulking Yeddyuruppa, who is angry with the BJP central leadership since he lost his chief ministership over graft allegations, is joining the Congress and if the party is open to admit the leader.

Her remarks came a day after Union Minister and senior party leader from Karnataka Mallikarjun Kharge saying that the Congress is prepared to accept Yeddyurappa, but only after "careful examination" of the details provided by him.

The relationship between Yeddyurappa and the BJP central leadership were further strained after party president Nitin Gadkari rebuffed the veteran leader's bid to regain chief ministership.

A defiant Yeddyurappa, who had to step down as chief minister after being indicted in the Lokayukta report into illegal mining, has declared that he and his followers would not attend a meeting convened by Gadkari in New Delhi on March 3.

A senior Congress leader, who declined to be identified, did not attach much importance to the threats by Yeddyurappa to the BJP high command. The leader also said that the Congress was not interested in toppling the BJP government in the state which is caught in internal strife.