Former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa who had thrown the gauntlet to the BJP top brass saying he was ready for Assembly polls, is preparing to sever ties with the ruling party by December end and float a non-political forum instead of joining another party. If BSY does this, he will be emulating former chief minister late Ramakrishna Hegde, who in the Eighties, created an apolitical forum, Rashtriya Navanirmana Vedike, before forming Lok Shakti, a political outfit. This may help BSY avoid the disciplinary action which is sure to follow if he launches a political forum.
The Lingayat strongman is not likely to quit the BJP in a hurry and is sure to make a determined effort to secure the party state president’s post. If the leadership continues to turn a blind eye to his pleas to make a honourable comeback to the political space by appointing him party chief, Mr Yeddyurappa may well launch a tirade against the party during his full-fledged state tour in October and then call it quits, said sources.
According to the sources, BSY’s options are limited, at least till incumbent chief minister Jagadish Shettar complete his term in May, 2013. Any attempt at a rebellion may see the exit of Mr Shettar, his nominee for the CM post, something BSY is not keen on as he may earn the dubious tag of toppling a Lingayat leader. He has therefore struck on the idea of an apolitical forum and a tour of the state to put an organisational network in place, before striking out on his own.