Yeddyurappa writes to Advani and wants to join NDA ahead of Modi’s visit to Bangalore.
Former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, who is struggling to keep his identity in the changing political scenario in Karnataka, has made it clear that he wants to keep the identity of his KJP intact and wants to join NDA to support Narendra Modi as PM candidate. Yeddyurappa told The Pioneer that he has no inclination to join BJP but wants to keep his party and identity intact. He said, “I have decided not to merge my party KJP with BJP. There is no question of this. But we have decided to support Narendra Modi and want to join NDA.”
Even though he has ruled out merger of his party with BJP, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa took a very calculated move to formally join NDA ahead of Modi’s Maharally in Bangalore on November 16. In a letter to BJP patriarch and chairman of NDA lK Advani , former chief minister expressed his desire to become an NDA partner.
This formal step to join NDA to support Narendra Modi by Yeddyurappa ahead of general elections is seen as a move to keep his identity ad also play a role in Karnataka politics.
In a letter to NDA chairman and BJP veteran leader lK Advani, with whom he shares an uneasy relationship, Yeddyurappa requested him to involve Karnataka Janatha Party in all the deliberations of NDA by inviting it to all the meetings.
Yeddyurappa’s letter comes in the midst of his repeated public posture that KJP would not merge with BJP, which he quit in the sequel to BJP central leadership’s decision to remove him as Chief Minister over the illegal mining issue. He said “ I assure full cooperation to make NDA a success. The executive Committee of the KJP has taken a unanimous decision to support NDA in its endeavor to make Modi as the future prime minister of India”.
“KJP has won six seats in the May Assembly polls in Karnataka and secured more than 10 per cent of total valid votes polled. The Election Commission has also recognised KJP as a regional party” he added.
KJP had played a spoilsport in the assembly elections which made congress to gain and form government in Karnataka. As BJP has not taken any decision to admit Yeddyurappa he now wants to join NDA keeping his identity intact. It has become crucial for BJP to rope in Yeddyurappa to gain some vote share in Karnataka for the ensuing general elections.
Meanwhile a close confidant of Yeddyurappa told The Pioneer lingayat strongman held a discussion with former speaker of lok Sabha and founder of National People’s Party P.A. Sangma in Bangalore recently to discuss his political future. Former speaker has set out to unite all regional parties supporting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the 2014 elections. Yeddyurappa also met Subramanian Swamy, who recently merged his Janata Party with the BJP.
Yeddyurappa, is known to be a close friend of Modi, who is in favour of bringing the former back into the BJP before the next lok Sabha polls keeping in mind the lingayat vote bank in Karnataka.