Will former chief minister B.S.Yeddyurappa give in to family pressure to merge his Karnataka Janata Party with the BJP ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections?
Sources close to the Lingayat strongman’s family told this newspaper the leader’s sons and daughters were keen on the merger notwithstanding pressure from his aides and supporters, including former minister Shobha Karandlaje, that the KJP should retain its identity and forge a seat-sharing pact with the BJP.
The sources said the former CM’s daughter Umadevi and sons B.Y. Raghavendra and B.Y. Vijayendra reportedly told their father to merge his party with the BJP after negotiating about a good position for himself with its top central leaders. The KJP’s poor show in the recent Assembly elections forced his family to suggest this step. They were also concerned about Mr Raghavendra’s political career. “Without power, running a regional party till the next Assembly elections is very difficult,” the sources added.