Rebel BJP leader B.S. Yed­d­yurappa who is wooing leaders from across the political spectrum for his proposed Karnataka Jana­ta Party (KJP), has not left even disgruntled elements in the Congress alone.
On Sunday, Mr Yeddyu­rappa was busy in Hubli hometown of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar holding talks with Congressmen including for­mer minister Jabbar Khan Honnali. Sources said BSY has offered them prime positions and assured grants for Muslims if his party comes to power in the State after the Assembly polls.

Mr Honnali reciprocated by blaming Congress leaders for sidelining him despite his service to the party for more than a decade. He slammed KPCC president Dr G Parame­shwar for his ‘lack of leadership qualities’ and the Congress for treating Muslims unfairly while making party appointments.

Amidst efforts by several BJP leaders to retain Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa in BJP, the former CM is trying to woo disgruntled leaders of the minority community in the Congress and make them join Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) which he plans to launch next month.

A group of Congress workers led by former minister Jabbar Khan Honnalli held discussions with Mr Yeddyurappa during his visit to the city on Sunday. Sources said Mr Yeddyurappa has offered prime positions and grants to the Muslims if his new party comes to power in the State.

“I have been sidelined by Congress leaders despite serving the party for more than a decade. KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar has no leadership qualities, the party has caused lot of injustice to the Muslim community while making appointment of party office-bearers. Mr S.M. Krishna’s entry into state politics will not help in the revival of the Congress. Therefore, we have expressed our desire to join KJP as Mr Yeddyurappa had invited us a fortnight ago”, said Honnalli who was elected as president of Anjuman-e-Islam organization a few months ago.

Mr Yeddyurappa has also promised social justice and adequate grants for the education of minority community people during discussions with the group of Congress leaders. He has also assured grants of Rs 1,000 crore for the development of Muslims and implementation of Sachar Committee report to address socio-economic issues of the community.

Mr Yeddyurappa held a luncheon meeting at the residence of Anjuman-e-Islam organization treasurer Mohammed Arif Mujawar. He reportedly discussed various strategies to counter the district Congress. This development has created ripples in Congress circle with several corporators of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, party office-bearers and other elected representatives extending their support to Jabbar Khan Honnalli.

Amidst this, ministers Basavaraj Bommai, V. Somanna and C.M. Udasi held meetings with Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar at his residence here on Sunday. They discussed various strategies to retain Mr Yeddyurappa in the party fold. But Mr Yeddyurappa has clarified in unequivocal terms that he will not revoke his decision. Stating that he was not consulted by Gujarat CM Narendra Modi as reported in a section of the media, he said that he will not bow to pressure tactics.

“I will never revoke my decision to form a new party. I thank leaders who are trying to retain me in BJP as this shows their respect for me”, Mr Yeddyurappa said.

Denying reports that he will resign from the primary memebership of BJP on November 7, Mr Yeddyurappa said that the date for quitting the party has not yet been finalized.