In an effort to scupper former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s efforts to become president of the state unit of BJP, senior leaders of the state unit are likely to mount pressure on president Nitin Gadkari not to consider him for the post. Sources in the party said several leaders, including state unit chief and deputy chief minister K.S. Eshwarappa, former chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and organising secretary, Santhosh, would call on Mr Gadkari soon after his return from Canada and oppose the candidature of Mr Yeddyurappa. They also plan to meet the other senior central leaders of the party in this regard, the sources added.
Such a move assumes significance in the wake of Mr Yeddyurappa’s hush-hush meetings with senior leader Mr Arun Jaitley in New Delhi. The former chief minister reportedly held two rounds of discussions with Mr Jaitley before returning to Bengaluru on Tuesday night. Mr. Yeddyurappa reportedly told Mr Jaitley that he would leave it to central leadership on how best to utilise his services for the party. In a related development, Mr Sadananda Gowda announced that the central leadership has invited him to New Delhi for discussions on selection of the state unit chief.
Meanwhile, former BJP ideologue K.N. Govindacharya who was in the city to attend a meeting of the senior leaders’ forum, said the former chief minister was unlikely to be appointed as president of the state unit as he was facing several cases of corruption in various courts.