Amid changing equations, there is a stepped-up campaign in the State BJP to bring back former Chief Minister and KJP leader BS Yeddyurappa to the party. A section of the leaders who are supporters of Yeddyurappa raised the pitch for his homecoming, an event expected to strengthen the BJP to fight lok Sabha elections in the State.
Even though Yeddyurappa has denied any such move in the past, sources indicate that he is open to the idea of coming back to the party. A close associate of Yeddyurappa told The Pioneer that “his leader has an open mind in considering coming back to the BJP. He said, “Yeddyurappa is looking at many options. In the changing political scenario, he wants to come back to the BJP with some honour and dignity. Naturally, Yeddyurappa should be made either State party president or the leader of the Opposition to take on the Congress in the next lok Sabha elections.”
Yeddyurappa, like JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda, had anticipated a hung Assembly and expected to play a crucial role in the Government formation. But contrary to the expectations, the mandate of the people went in favour of the Congress. Amid the changing political equations, Yeddyurappa has to keep his political identity, wether aligning with the BJP, Congress or “third front” through the JD(S). At this juncture, there is a serious effort behind the curtains to work out an amicable solution to bring him to the party fold.
In fact, an indication that the BJP leadership is open to the idea of taking back Yeddyurappa came from BJP general secretary Thavarchand Gehlot who looks after Karnataka affairs. After a meeting of the core committee he said in Bangalore that the party leadership will take a call on this issue but confirmed that some of the leaders were in favour of bringing back Yeddyurappa. He said, “As Yeddyurappa left the party he has to get in touch with us. We have no idea if he’s inclined to return. Central leaders will take a call once he makes his stand clear.”
According to sources, an emissary of Yeddyurappa was in Delhi and met the senior party leaders to convey Yeddyurappa’s inclination to come back to the BJP. However a source told The Pioneer, a group led by senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar a known baiter of Yeddyurappa opposed bringing lingayat strongman to the party fold. It is learnt that Ananth Kumar and his confidants, including State BJP chief Prahlad Joshi, former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa and R Ashoka have opposed bringing BSY back to the party.
A senior party leader indicated the stance of the dominant section in the party brass which favours reconciliation with the former Karnataka CM to ensure that the tally of 19 lok Sabha seats reaped from the State in last lok Sabha elections does not get drastically diminished in 2014.
According to sources Yeddyurappa is looking all options which include supporting Congress and the third front through JD(S) if the BJP failed to accept him keeping the KJP identity intact.
According to a central leader, the party leadership should also favour the rapprochement. Meanwhile, a source in the RSS also indicated they favour Yeddyurappa’s return to the party to face the general elections. The RSS, it is learnt, wants the BJP to either persuade Yeddyurappa to merge his Karnataka Janata Paksha into the saffron fold or to at least have a pre-poll alliance.
Even as the BJP is yet to formally decide on its PM candidate but Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, being considered as the top contender for the post, shares a good rapport with Yeddyurappa and wants him back in the party to increase its base in the South.
According to lehar Singh, BJP MlC in Karnataka and a strong supporter of Yeddyurappa, elders should persuade him in the interest of the party to come back to the BJP.