Poll panel chief or Opposition leader?
Bengaluru: Senior central leaders of BJP are likely to offer three key positions to former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa after a discussion with leaders of the state unit on the Lingayat strongman's return to the party.
Sources said the options under consideration include his appointment as leader of Opposition in the Assembly, as head of the campaign committee ahead of elections to Lok Sabha, or as national vice president. The offer would be made after working out modalities of the merger of Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) with BJP, the sources added.
The sources said central leaders were piqued that leaders of the state unit were delaying a decision on re-induction of Yeddyurappa, and assured the former CM's aide Lehar Singh, MLC, that they would take a decision shortly.
Meanwhile, sources close to Yeddyurappa told Deccan Chronicle that Lehar Singh explained to central leaders about the division within the state unit on the issue.
"Unless a consensus is arrived at by state leaders, the reinduction of Yeddyurappa will be difficult. If state leaders fail to arrive at a consensus, central leaders should intervene in the matter," Singh reportedly told leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, adding that any further delay would only harm the prospects of the party in Karnataka.
The sources said Arun Jaitley and other leaders assured Singh that the central leadership would take a firm decision after a discussion with state unit leaders and legislators loyal to Yeddyurappa.
BJP leaders rush to fill posts before BSY entr
Bengaluru: Are leaders of the state unit of BJP in a tearing hurry to appoint new office bearers and district in-charge representatives ahead of Yeddyurappa's re-entry into the party?
A member of the core committee replied in the affirmative, saying "we should complete the process of appointing office bearers and district in-charge representatives and ensure that loyalists secure key posts before Yeddyurappa's return to the party."
Meanwhile, after chairing a meeting of the state executive committee of Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) here on Thursday, Yeddyurappa said he would whole heartedly support the BJP-led NDA in next year's general elections as people have faith in the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
His outfit, the KJP, however, would not merge with the the BJP or any other party.
"We will retain our identity, and strengthen the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections", the former Chief Minister said.
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