The day after he was made the Karnataka BJP president, lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa defined his responsibility and said his immediate task was to free Karnataka from a corrupt Congress. He told the media at his Dollars Colony residence on Saturday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is working like a “dictator” instead of addressing the grievances of the people. “He is busy expanding his Cabinet and filling posts of boards and corporations,” he chided.
“To free Karnataka from Congress, we will work as a team. You have seen the response of the Central Ministers from Karnataka and senior party leaders in the State, who came here. We will join hands to achieve the goal of bringing the party to power in the State,” he said.
Yeddyurappa who’s ambition was to come back to State politics looked immensely pleased at the new appointment and confidently said that he would be the “next Chief Minister of Karnataka as the party would win 150 seats in the 2018 Assembly polls.” He also said the people of the State wanted him to head the State.
Yeddyurappa, who became State party president for the fourth time denied any internal differences against his appointment as party chief. “The term of previous president Prahlad Joshi ended ten days ago and it took some time for the party leadership to fill that post,” he added.
“People of the State wanted Yeddyurappa to head the party in the State and honouring their sentiments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amith Shah handed over the responsibility of strengthening the party in the State to me,” he said. “I have a responsibility to live up to their expectation. They have exonerated all the mistakes committed by me and given me a huge responsibility,” he added.
On whether he was the inevitable choice for the party at this juncture, Yeddyurappa said there were many senior and experienced leaders in the party. “But, the Central leadership felt my need at this juncture and they thought I can shoulder the responsibility of strengthening the party,” he explained.
He said that he would officially take charge as the party State head on April 15 and start touring the drought-hit areas from April 23. After taking stock of the situation, he along with other leaders, would chalk out the plan of action to fight against the ruling Congress in Karnataka.
“I will discharge my duty as the State party president with honesty and sincerity. I thank Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several other leaders for showing faith in my leadership, and I would like to take all the leaders along in the State,” he said.
Yedyurappa said in his political career he had tasted many sweet and sour moments, but this latest assignment was one of the sweet moments.