Loyalists plead, but BSY firm on quitting

Loyalist ministers of B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday again tried to convince the former chief minister not to quit the BJP, but the Lingayat leader is said to have remained firm on his stand that he would launch a new party.

The former chief minister is scheduled to be at Haveri on Thursday to hold a meeting with his followers to make arrangements for the programme, he is going to host on December 10 where he is expected to launch his party, Karnataka Janata Paksha.

Minister Basavaraj Bommai, C M Udasi and Umesh Katti met Yeddyurappa at the latter’s Dollars Colony residence and briefed him on their New Delhi visit where they had met several central leaders of the party.

However, Yeddyurappa is understood to have told them that he was not happy with the response of the central leaders. Senior leader L K Advani did not meet the visiting State leaders while party national president Nitin Gadkari had excused himself citing personal work. Gadkari has reportedly asked Arun Jaitley to handle the issue.

It is said that Yeddyurappa, at the most, may be appointed chairperson of election committee. But he may not be interested in the post. His supporters claim he is not interested in any post to be offered by the party. Yeddyurappa held discussions with BJP youth workers from various districts who have evinced interest to join his party.

BJP State president K S Eshwarappa said the central leaders will take an appropriate step to retain the disgruntled leader. “We apprised the central leaders of the need to retain Yeddyurappa in the party. They (the central leaders) have agreed with us and assured to take appropriate steps soon,” he said.