“People of Karnataka will see a changed Yeddyurappa after the Sankranti festival. My movements, words, thoughts, feelings, and qualities will all change, but not at the cost of harming the ruling BJP government,” declared former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at a press conference here on Saturday, while denying that he intended to leave the party or form a breakaway outfit.
“I have come to the BJP through the RSS. There is no question of quitting the party. I have also no plans to form another outfit. My aim is only to make the BJP stronger in the state,” he said, adding that he was not in the habit of sitting quiet, however. “I have emerged through holding movements with the people. Now I am an unemployed. Chief minister Sadananda Gowda says he will look after the government’s administration and state BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa is monitoring the party’s affairs. So as there is no work for me, I will tour the state on the directions of the BJP state president to strengthen the party,” he said.
He maintained the BJP high command had not been able to pay attention to developments in Karnataka as it was busy with the Assembly elections in north India, but it would take a decision on them at right time. “It is necessary to change according to the circumstances in politics,” he added. On Mr Eshwarappa’s recent conduct, he said, “Being the president of the state BJP he is free to choose which programme to attend and which not to. So, I will not say more about this. But that does not mean we are rivals.”
On his meeting with the Reddy brothers, he said while there was no question of bringing back former minister B. Sreeramulu to the BJP, former ministers Janardhan Reddy and Karunakar Reddy had played a vital role in building the party and forming the government in the state.
“I have admired them for many years, so there was nothing wrong in meeting Mr Janardhan Reddy,” he claimed.