The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who has announced his candidature for the Lok Sabha elections from the Shimoga constituency, launched the preparations here on Saturday.
Mr. Yeddyurappa visited the residences of senior BJP leaders, including that of the former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, in the morning. Later, he addressed activists of Shimoga city and rural units of the party.
Mr. Eshwarappa and Mr. Yeddyurappa had serious differences in the past and there were verbal spats during the recent Assembly elections. It was Mr. Yeddyurappa's first visit to the latter’s residence after returning to the BJP.
Mr. Eshwarappa welcomed Mr. Yeddyurappa by offering sweets. Mr. Yeddyurappa was accompanied by his son B.Y. Raghavendra, MP.
“The BJP under Narendra Modi will come to power at the Centre. I wish Mr. Yeddyurappa becomes a Union Minister as the nation needs the service of committed leaders like him,” Mr. Eshwarappa said. Mr. Yeddyurappa said it was the right time to sink the differences and work together for the Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a meeting of BJP activists from the Shimoga Rural Assembly constituency, Mr. Yeddyurappa said the Congress-led UPA government was suffering from a leadership crises and policy paralysis. He said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had failed to mobilise resources for development works.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said he would tour the constituency to rejuvenate the party. “I will visit Sagar on Monday, Bhadravathi on Tuesday, Hosanagar and Byndoor on Wednesday, Shiralakoppa on Thursday and address conventions of BJP workers in Tirthahalli and Sorab on Saturday,” he said.
The BJP has organised a meeting to discuss the issues related to development of Shimoga city at Lagan Mandir on Tuesday. Professionals, entrepreneurs, academicians and representatives of civil society organisations would be invited to the meeting, he said.
He said BJP national president Rajnath Singh would attend a rally in Shimoga city on February 26.
