The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s poor performance in the recent urban local bodies elections appears to have given an additional push to many fence-sitters in the party to make the final move towards the B.S. Yeddyurappa-led Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP).
Meeting
A few likeminded leaders, particularly those from the Lingayat community, reportedly held a meeting a couple of days ago under the leadership of the party’s Belgaum strongman Prabhakar Kore, who is close to Mr. Yeddyurappa.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani and Excise Minister M.P. Renukacharya, sources in the KJP told The Hindu .
The leaders decided to meet again either on Friday or Saturday to take a final decision.
Deferred
It is said that though the KJP was keen on announcing the first list of candidates for the Assembly polls, it has deferred it in view of the anticipated migration of MLAs from the BJP.
Exodus ruled out
Sources in the BJP, however, ruled out any exodus of its legislators to the KJP and said that the party was busy in chalking out strategies for the Assembly polls.
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is interacting with leaders at the district core committee meetings, the sources said.
United alliance
Meanwhile, inaugurating a two-day convention of KJP cadres who contested the ULB elections here on Thursday, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that he had held talks with leaders of farmers, Kannada organisations, and others with a view to forming a united alliance.
The party would field candidates under this united alliance, which would not have any links either with the BJP or the Congress, during the Assembly elections, Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
