In yet another attempt to placate former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and seek his support for senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh in next week’s election to the Vice President’s post, party organising secretary V. Satish held an hour-long meeting with the leader at his residence here on Saturday.
Sources in the party told Deccan Chronicle that the meeting was also to ensure that none of the former chief minister’s supporters, including Members of Parliament, cross-vote during polling scheduled for August 7. Senior leaders are worried that another instance of cross-voting would dent the image of the party, for 14 legislators had voted for UPA-supported Presidential candidate Mr Pranab Mukherjee during polling on July 19.
The sources said Mr Yeddyurappa was non-committal and did not disclose his stand, nor air any complaints against central or state unit leaders. Mr. Satish also sought the former chief minister’s cooperation in reshuffle of portfolios and nomination of three members to the Legislative Council after the ongoing session of state legislature, the sources added.
When contacted about his meeting with Mr Yeddyurappa, Mr. Satish told Deccan Chronicle, “Whenever I am in Bengaluru, I meet all leaders of the party. There is nothing significant about my meeting with Mr. Yeddyurappa. I am not authorised to comment on rumours about Mr Yeddyurappa leaving BJP”.
Several senior leaders, including party president Nitin Gadkari, have been persuading Mr Yeddyurappa not to quit the BJP. Mr Gadkari even dispatched his confidante Mr Sanjay Joshi to hold a hush-hush meeting with the former chief minister and request him to stay and assure him that the party would soon offer him a key post. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has also sent him word, cautioning him against any rash move.