BJP bosses offer BSY olive branch

He may be made chairperson of poll campaign committee

With B S Yeddyurappa intensifying his attempts to launch a new party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership has held out an olive branch to  the Lingayat leader by offering him the post of chairperson of the party’s State unit election campaign committee.

Dharmendra Pradhan, the BJP general secretary and in-charge of party’s Karnataka affairs, will arrive here on Tuesday evening, and meet with ministers and MPs the next day. He may also persuade Yeddyurappa not to leave the party.

Pradhan will also officially inform Yeddyurappa about the central leadership’s offer to make him the chairperson of the State  campaign committee. “If Yeddyurappa accepts the offer, the central leaders will announce the decision in the national capital shortly,” sources said.

The party high command has, however, rejected Yeddyurappa’s demand to appoint him the State unit president and also declare him as the chief ministerial candidate.
Meanwhile, both pro and anti-Yeddyurappa camps will meet separately in Bangalore on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss their future course of action. But until Monday evening, no agenda had been finalised by both groups.

Private meeting

Yeddyurappa is hosting a luncheon for his supporters, including legislators and MPs, at his residence at 12 noon on Tuesday.

The meeting is likely to begin after 2 pm, and no less than 50 MLAs, 20 MLCs, eight Lok Sabha members and two Rajya Sabha members are expected to attend the luncheon.

In all probability, all senior leaders, including 10 ministers who are with Yeddyurappa, may attend the meeting.

As for the party, it has not restricted any member from attending the meeting called by Yeddyurappa because he is still with the BJP.

Sources in the Yeddyurappa camp said the meeting had no fixed agenda at the current time.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has convened a Cabinet meeting at 12.30 pm. So, all the ministers will be in Bangalore on Tuesday. After the meeting, a section of the ministers will head for Yeddyurappa’s residence.

State party president K S Eshwarappa said, “On Tuesday evening, we will meet to decide the next day’s agenda. Pradhan will arrive later in the day. We have called a meeting of MPs and ministers on Wednesday. We would like to direct all the MLAs and ministers to take up party work in view of the next Assembly elections.”