<p><br />Decks were today cleared for the merger of B S Yeddyurappa-led Karnataka Janata Paksha with BJP as the two parties took steps to formalise their union.<br /><br /></p>.<p>After the Karnataka BJP core committee met, state party chief Prahlad Joshi said, "There is absolute consensus (about the entry of Yeddyurappa). There is no problem. <br /><br />Unanimously the state unit has decided that we have to fight (Lok Sabha) election together."<br /><br />The merger moves had gathered steam in recent weeks, with Yeddyurappa giving clear indications that it was only a matter of time before his return to BJP whose state leaders also got the green signal from the party top brass.<br /><br />"KJP should merge with BJP, so that unitedly we can fight, because of the division of anti-Congress vote in last Assembly elections both of us have suffered, we don't want to repeat it again," Joshi added.<br /><br />KJP had garnered six seats and 10 per cent vote share in the May 8 Assembly polls playing spoiler to the then ruling BJP, which lost its first ever government in the South. KJP had failed to make a big impact as an independent force.<br /><br />Noting that state unit was unanimous on induction of Yeddyurappa, Joshi said, "He has already declared that he is ready to join BJP, which state unit has whole heartedly welcomed."<br /><br />To a question whether Yeddyurappa will be given any formal invitation, he said, "He has already declared that he is joining BJP, we are formally meeting (him) that's all."<br />On criticism by Congress and other opponents on re-induction of Yeddyurappa, Joshi said "... when allegations were made against him (Yeddyurappa) through some agency, then president of BJP and our central unit took a decision that when there are serious charges, he should not remain in position."<br /><br />But, he said, the party never took a stand that he should not remain in the BJP.<br />To a question on delay despite unanimity on Yeddyurappa's induction, Joshi said, "Our central unit was supposed to clear all these things; yesterday it told us to formally meet and discuss his (Yeddyurappa's) re-entry into the party and merger of KJP and BJP.<br />"As soon as we got the clearance from the central unit, we are moving ahead."</p>
<p><br />Decks were today cleared for the merger of B S Yeddyurappa-led Karnataka Janata Paksha with BJP as the two parties took steps to formalise their union.<br /><br /></p>.<p>After the Karnataka BJP core committee met, state party chief Prahlad Joshi said, "There is absolute consensus (about the entry of Yeddyurappa). There is no problem. <br /><br />Unanimously the state unit has decided that we have to fight (Lok Sabha) election together."<br /><br />The merger moves had gathered steam in recent weeks, with Yeddyurappa giving clear indications that it was only a matter of time before his return to BJP whose state leaders also got the green signal from the party top brass.<br /><br />"KJP should merge with BJP, so that unitedly we can fight, because of the division of anti-Congress vote in last Assembly elections both of us have suffered, we don't want to repeat it again," Joshi added.<br /><br />KJP had garnered six seats and 10 per cent vote share in the May 8 Assembly polls playing spoiler to the then ruling BJP, which lost its first ever government in the South. KJP had failed to make a big impact as an independent force.<br /><br />Noting that state unit was unanimous on induction of Yeddyurappa, Joshi said, "He has already declared that he is ready to join BJP, which state unit has whole heartedly welcomed."<br /><br />To a question whether Yeddyurappa will be given any formal invitation, he said, "He has already declared that he is joining BJP, we are formally meeting (him) that's all."<br />On criticism by Congress and other opponents on re-induction of Yeddyurappa, Joshi said "... when allegations were made against him (Yeddyurappa) through some agency, then president of BJP and our central unit took a decision that when there are serious charges, he should not remain in position."<br /><br />But, he said, the party never took a stand that he should not remain in the BJP.<br />To a question on delay despite unanimity on Yeddyurappa's induction, Joshi said, "Our central unit was supposed to clear all these things; yesterday it told us to formally meet and discuss his (Yeddyurappa's) re-entry into the party and merger of KJP and BJP.<br />"As soon as we got the clearance from the central unit, we are moving ahead."</p>