Yeddyurappa to take over as BJP state prez on April 14

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday decided to formally take charge as the new BJP State president on April 14 at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru on the sidelines of Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti.

The party will organise a public rally at Gayatri Vihar in Palace Grounds to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar. Yeddyurappa will assume charge on the occasion. About 20,000 people are expected to attend the programme. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held by Yeddyurappa with the party legislators from Bengaluru. Union Ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda were also present.

The issue of severe drought in the state was also discussed in the meeting, and it was decided to tour the entire state after April 21. Separate teams of leaders will be formed for this purpose. Leaders will try to educate people about failures of the government in providing drought relief, sources in the BJP said. This apart, Yeddyurappa has decided to hold a separate meeting with BJP corporators of the BBMP on April 16. He will interact with the corporators on issues related to Bengaluru development and other organisational issues, the sources added.