Karnataka chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Friday met BJP top brass, including party chief Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi, a day after he got elected to the Upper House of the state. Calling himself an “eligible CM”, Mr Gowda also rubbished speculation of his predecessor B.S. Yeddyurappa’s reinstatment after 17 MPs from the state lobbied for the former CM before the BJP top brass.
Mr Gowda also played down these MPs’ attempt to bring back Mr Yeddyurappa and insisted he learnt about the letter by these MPs to BJP parliamentary party chairman L.K. Advani only through the media. He also said he had not received any official communication from the central leadership regarding the letter.
Last week, 17 Karnataka MPs considered close to Mr Yeddyurappa had met Mr Advani demanding his reinstatement. They had also given him a letter claiming that BJP’s prospects are going down in the state ever since Mr Yeddyurappa was asked to quit over corruption charges.
Speculation are rife in the party that Mr Yeddyurappa has asked for the two top-most posts in the state. After the BJP top brass told him that he cannot be reinstated at his old post, Mr Yeddyurappa, it was learnt, has staked claim for the state unit chief post.
Karnataka CM also met BJP parliamentary party chairman L K Advani and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj. Mr Gowda was also present during the screening of a documentary film made by Mr Advani’s daughter on his recently concluded Janchetna yatra against corruption. He insisted the meeting with central leadership was only to seek their blessings after his win of the bypolls.