Elated BSY hints at merging KJP with BJP

Like many BJP leaders, even KJP President B S Yeddyurappa on Friday expressed his jubilation at the appointment of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. He even hinted at merging his party with the BJP.

He addressed a press conference here minutes after BJP made an official announcement that Modi was its prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Yeddyurappa said his party would strongly support Modi and the NDA in the general elections.

“There is no question of talks with any other party other than the NDA,” Yeddyurappa said. On whether he was ready to merge his party with the BJP, Yeddyurappa said a final decision in this regard would be taken at a meeting of senior KJP leaders on September 18.

Dream come true

“For me Modi’s elevation is a dream come true. However, as the founder president of the KJP, I will have to consult all leaders in the party before taking a decision,” he said.

Yeddyurappa is a long-time supporter of Modi and had dropped hints that he would come back to the BJP if the Gujarat chief minister is declared the party’s prime ministerial candidate. The sidelining of senior leader L K Advani by his own partymen has also come in handy for Yeddyurappa as he had fallen out with the former during his last days in the BJP.

“Like Atal Behari Vajpayee, Modi has wide acceptability and mass appeal. Under his leadership, we can emerge as a new and vibrant country,” he said.

He said Modi was popular among all sections of society and especially among the farming community and youth.

Yeddyurappa, however, declined to comment on Advani, stating he would not like to speak anything about the senior leader.


“The BJP State unit welcomes the anointment of Narendra Modi as the BJP prime ministerial candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha elections. We are confident that under the dynamic leadership of Modi, NDA will secure absolute majority and dislodge the inefficient UPA government at the Centre. We are confident that Karnataka will send maximum number of MPs to Parliament to see Modi as the prime minister.”

Pralhad Joshi,
BJP State President

“For all the problems of the country, Modi is the solution. The UPA government has brought down the stature of the party. Even a small country like Bangladesh was taking potshots at us. Modi will regain India’s glory.”

R Ashoka,
former deputy chief minister

“Modi will be instrumental in making India corruption-free. He will check price rise and give a stable government.”

C T Ravi,
former minister

“Narendra Modi’s elevation will help revive the BJP in the State. He will provide strength to the party. Modi is very popular in Karnataka. Last time we had won 19 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Under Narendra Modi’s leadership, we will win more seats in the 2014 polls.”

Jagadish Shettar,
former chief minister