BJP’s lingayat strongman from Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa is keeping a stoic silence preparing to make his political moves very carefully. The 72-year-old fighter who rose from the stables of RSS has been part of the progression of the BJP in Karnataka is looking ahead to make a mark at the national level.
The supporters of Yeddyurappa in the State unit of the saffron party are working overtime to see their leader moves up in the ladder to make a mark in the hierarchy of the party.
Former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa who won by a massive margin from his home town Shimoga constituency as an MP without embarrassing the Prime Minister has voluntarily opted out of the ministerial race.
Many in the party say Yeddyurappa wants to play his political games at Delhi keeping his identity intact. His supporters, many BJP MlAs and MPs look ahead to see Yeddyurappa getting a major role in the party’s new set up led by its national president Amit Shah.
A close confidant of Yeddyurappa told The Pioneer that there was a proposal sent by the State unit to accommodate him in the new regime to use his full potential to the party.
He said, “Obviously Yeddyurappa is our choice. He should move up in the ladder. We look ahead in the party to make use of his full potential. We will be certainly apprising this to the party seniors to take a decision. Yeddyurappa who built the party single handedly needs to be accommodated.”
Many of his supporters give Yeddyurappa full marks for the recent victory and say Yeddyurappa was the natural choice from Karnataka to make it to central team in the party. They also feel as Yeddyurappa was not made the Minister (he volunteered to opt out of the race) he should be elevated.
According to one of his supporters, who was a senior Minister in the BJP Government, the possibility of Yeddyurappa making it to the central office bearers began when he opted out of the race to be part of Modi Cabinet.
Yeddyurappa, who faced slew of corruption cases, had to resign as Chief Minister of the State bounced back and consolidated the party against the Congress in the State. In fact he decimated the Congress with the Modi wave brightening the chances of BJP in Karnataka.
According to a party insider, Yeddyurappa held discussions with his supporters and indicated that he was ready to take any responsibility given to him by
the party.
He said, “Yeddyurappa’s equation with the Prime Minister and the new national president is very cordial and good. We know that there is already some discussion on giving him a post has commenced as the new president is going to constitute his central team in a few days time.”
According to party insiders Yeddyurappa will be made one of the vice-presidents as it will have no major impact considering his court cases.
A senior leader in Delhi said there was no discussion so far on including Yeddyurappa from Karnataka.
He feels since he was the tallest leader from Karnataka he would be naturally inducted once the process starts to constitute the team.