BSY slams door, BJP keeps it open

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Even as Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and BJP state president K.S. Eshwarappa fly to New Delhi on Tuesday to make a last ditch effort to convince party leaders to pacify B.S. Yeddyurappa by giving him a plum post, the former CM is moving ahead with plans for a new outfit by opening the office of Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) on the same day.

State BJP leaders who fear the impact Mr Yeddyurappa’s exit will have on the party’s poll prospects, have secured an appointment with central leaders to discuss the issue.

BJP bigwigs in Karnataka decided to rush to Delhi after ministers loyal to BSY said that no effort should be spared to retain the Lingayat strongman in the party.

They had warned of resigning on December 10—the day Mr Yeddyurappa has fixed for the launch of his new party— and join their mentor at the public programme in Haveri, which would well mean curtains for the Jagadish Shettar government and a vertical split in the BJP.

Mr Shettar and Mr Eshwarappa will be accompanied on their Delhi trip by deputy chief minister R. Ashok, water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai and industries minister Murugesh Nirani.

Sources said Mr Yeddyurappa and his supporters had deliberately decided to have the KJP office launch on Tuesday to embarrass the BJP and send out signals that they had waited long enough for a proper ‘rehabilitation’ of the former CM in the party.

Mr Yeddyurappa has been left without any post and reduced to an ordinary MLA since July, 2011 when he resigned as CM after the Lokayukta report on illegal mining indicted him.

After performing puja at his Malleswaram office in the city, Mr Yeddyurappa will start work on the launch of his new party.

On Monday, he performed Sudarshana Homa at the office which will become the hub of his political activity as his Dollars Colony residence, is a bit far from the city.

He also reiterated his decision to quit BJP and form KJP and said there would be no change in his decision.