BSY: Prodigal son back in fold

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After months of speculation that the former chief minister, angry and upset over being sidelined by the top brass was set to leave the mother party, former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa set at rest speculation that he would quit and float his own party. “I will not quit BJP at any cost. Though I am disturbed, there is no confusion over this decision. I will tour the state over the next three months to strengthen the BJP and interact with people in drought-hit areas.

My single-point agenda is to ensure that the BJP secures majority in the forthcoming Assembly elections,” he told the media here on Tuesday. The former chief minister said he merely wanted to work for the party, and did not expect anything in return.

No quitting BJP, asserts BSY
“The party has given me everything. It made me deputy chief minister, state unit president and the Chief Minister, too. I will not ask central leaders for anything. I don't want to be the Chief Minister again nor do I want the state president's post," he added.

Explaining why he chose not to part ways and launch a new party, Mr Yeddyurappa said "When there was a delay on the part of the party in changing the leadership, I frankly thought of forming a new outfit. If I form a new party now, how can I explain my decision to the people? At the most, I can say that the party did not give me a post as promised by central leaders. Do you think people will accept this (explanation)?” Asked how people would vote for the BJP if he were not projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate in next year's elections to the Legislative Assembly, Mr Yeddyurappa said he would convince voters that an eligible leader would be made the Chief Minister.

The former chief minister felt that he had put his guilty conscience behind him, following the election of another Lingayat leader, Jagadish Shettar, as CM. “The community (Lingayats) was upset with me. Now with the appointment of Mr Shettar as Chief Minister, I have managed to overcome my guilty conscience, and the community is convinced," he added. On whether his tour was ill-timed as the state was reeling under drought, Yeddyurappa said, “I will accept there have been lapses, and seek people's pardon. I need to take permission from CBI before leaving Bengaluru," he added.