It is almost certain that beleaguered former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would skip campaigning in Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency ahead of the bypoll scheduled for March 18 despite claims by chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and state unit chief K.S. Eshwarappa that the leader would tour the constituency to drum up support for party candidate Sunil Kumar.
Sources in the party told this newspaper that Mr Yeddyurappa reportedly gave an earful to Mr Sadananda Gowda and Mr Eshwarappa when they invited him to join the campaign tour of Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency. The former chief minister reportedly rebuffed the duo, saying he was not aware of the fact that he was considered a leader with a significant clout in the party as senior colleagues were often asking him to emerge clean in cases filed against him in various courts. “Both Mr Gowda and Mr Eshwarappa extended an invitation to Mr Yeddyurappa and pleaded with him to accompany them to Chikamagalur on February 29,” the sources explained.
The sources added that at this juncture, Mr Yeddyurappa raised his voice and demanded that the duo ought to make up their mind whether he was a leader commanding considerable respect or a disgraced leader. “If you think, I am a leader to be remembered only during elections or by-elections, then you are totally wrong. I will not come with you. Henceforth, I will create my own path to success. Describing me a as a leader who can return to power only if I am cleared of the charges, is wrong,” he reportedly told the duo.