Close on the heels of his return from Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa called on Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar at his Home Office ‘Krishna’ here on Thursday.
Before calling on the Chief Minister, Mr. Yeddyurappa held a round of consultations with his followers at his residence.
At the meeting of his followers, Mr. Yeddyurappa is learnt to have explained the purpose of his Delhi visit, which he said was in connection with meeting legal experts regarding cases pending against him.
Ministers V. Somanna, Shobha Karandlaje, Murugesh Nirani, M.P. Renukacharya, C.M. Udasi and Raju Gowda attended the meeting.
Later, he went to the party office in Malleshwaram and interacted with party workers.
Speaking to mediapersons on the occasion, he maintained that he was not an aspirant for the BJP State president’s post. ““I will remain as an ordinary worker of the party,” he said. He said there was no need for any Minister and legislator to argue on his behalf and demand the State president’s post for him.
He took exception to media reports describing his recent visit to Delhi as an attempt to lobby for the State president’s post. “I did not visit Delhi for the State president’s post and it was related to some legal matters. Hence I desisted from even calling on the Central leaders this time,” he said.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, who recently undertook the first phase of tour to some of the drought-hit areas, said he would embark upon the second phase of the tour from September 11. He said this time he would visit taluk centres.
He had already submitted a report to the State government on his findings during the first phase of the tour.
He said there were lapses in a few areas though the drought-relief works had been effectively taken up. Such lapses had been brought to the notice of the government.
He accused the Centre of failing to effectively respond to the request by the State for releasing additional aid for taking up drought relief.
