BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa is set to invite the former Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, to campaign for the party in the coming bypolls to the Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly constituencies.
Addressing a public rally at Aalathuru in Gundlupet constituency during his campaigning on Thursday, Mr. Yeddyurappa said he will request Mr. Krishna, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, to address three to four public rallies in Nanjangud and Gundlupet.
Mr. Yeddyurappa will be in Bengaluru on Friday to welcome Mr. Krishna into the party fold at a “mega” reception to be held at the BJP office in Malleswaram.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, who is said to have played a key role in the entry of the veteran Congress leader to the BJP, was unable to be at the function held in New Delhi on Wednesday, when Mr. Krishna joined the party. However, he had telephoned Mr. Krishna on the eve of his entry, and wished him well.
The BJP leader held public rallies and road shows in various parts of Gundlupet constituency, including Koothanuru, Bheemanabeedu, Berambadi, Nenekatte and Madalli on Thursday. Among others He was accompanied by party leader A.R. Krishnamurthy and the party’s candidate for the constituency, Niranjan Kumar.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru before his departure for campaign on Thursday, Mr. Yeddyurappa said Mr. Krishna’s entry hasbeen a boost and has strengthened the party.
When he was asked to respond to the setting up of House Committee to frame rules for media reporting, Mr. Yeddyurappa said the media was the fourth pillar of democracy and has to play a socially responsible role. The media should complement the functions of legislature, judiciary and executive, he added.
Reacting to the ongoing agitation by anganwadi workers, Mr. Yeddyurappa said the Siddaramaiah government had failed to solve the issue and he was always pointing an accusing finger at the Centre for all his government’s failures.
