Yeddyurappa re-entry: BJP leaders meet RSS amidst stiff opposition

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Hubli: Leaders in Hubli-Dharwad—considered a saffron bastion—have not taken kindly to moves to reinduct B.S. Yeddyurappa into the BJP. In fact, local RSS leaders, during a discussion with BJP leaders Ananth Kumar and Aravind Limbavali, suggested that they tread cautiously on the issue as the former CM and his loyalists may impose preconditions for their re-entry.
During the discussion with Mangesh Bende, a senior Sangh Parivar leader on Saturday, the impact of Yeddyurappa’s return on the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections was discussed. Former CM Jagadish Shettar and State BJP president Prahlad Joshi were also privy to the discussion.
The RSS leadership is none too happy about the charges made by BSY loyalist Dhananjay Kumar against party patriarch L.K. Advani while some BJP leaders felt his absence from the party campaign would only benefit the Congress, as it happened during the Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, local BJP leaders in Hubli-Dharwad have upped the pressure on former CM Jagadish Shettar and Prahlad Joshi to oppose the merger of KJP, the outfit founded by Yeddyurappa,  with the BJP. They claimed that such a move will adversely impact the party image in the long run though it may bring some  benefit in the Lok Sabha elections.
“We have been doing a lot to revive the BJP in north Karnataka after Yeddyurappa deserted us. His re-entry will affect our discipline as several tainted leaders of KJP will demand proper positions including those of Leader of the Opposition and party president. We are for the merger only if is unconditional”, said party leader Lingaraj Patil said.