In what seems to be a step to speed up the process of merger with the BJP, former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has sent his close associate Lehar Singh to Delhi to assess the mood of the BJP central leadership on the merger issue.
Mr Lehar Singh is likely to hold talks with BJP president Rajnath Singh and party senior leader Arun Jaitley on Wednesday night. He is also likely to meet party patriarch L.K. Advani on Thursday.
When contacted, Mr Singh refused to comment about his Delhi mission. But sources close to the former CM told this newspaper that he has gone to Delhi to meet central leaders. Mr Yeddyurappa has already pledged his support to the BJP-led NDA in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
However, his return to the party fold will take some time as a consensus has to be arrived at between BJP state and central leaders, sources said.
Even Mr Yeddyurappa is not in a position to make the first move, with the BJP state leadership divided over his reinduction. The former CM is worried that his detractors in the BJP could derail his attempts to return to the saffron party.