The Bharatiya Janata Party State core committee is set to discuss the pros and cons of the request by a few of its leaders to bring back the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa into the party at its meeting in Bangalore on Saturday, in the presence of national general secretary and State in-charge Thawarchand Gehlot.
“The core committee will only discuss the issue, but the final decision will have to be taken by the high command only,” highly placed sources in the party said.
The issue has become complex not just because the inner dynamics have come to the fore again with the pro-Yeddyurappa group wanting him back and his opponents having reservations. Several other leaders too are allegedly trying to gain individual political mileage by aggressively pushing for Yeddyurappa’s re-inclusion.
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“More than addressing the issue of whether efforts should be made to bring back Mr. Yeddyurappa, we are concerned over the manner in which those making such a demand are trying to bring pressure on the party. We also want to ensure neutrality in the issue by ensuring that none of the groups — including pro or anti-Yeddyurappa camps — use the issue for individual political gain,” sources said.
They made it clear that the party had an open mind on the issue. “But the party has its own procedures and process of examining a sensitive issue like this,” they said. In this context, the party leadership is said to have decided to send a strong message to its leaders and workers that it would not tolerate statements or meetings outside party forums.
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A few leaders, led by the former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, met party State president Pralhad Joshi on Thursday and requested him to call Mr. Yeddyurappa back. They said it would help strengthen the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Mr. Joshi told reporters in Hubli that there was no proposal before the party on getting Mr. Yeddyurappa back. “Some BJP legislators have met me and put forward their views on getting Mr Yeddyurappa back into the party. I have told them that I will pass on their views to the Central leadership,” he said.
To a query on whether his role had become that of a postman, Mr. Joshi said he would convey his opinion on the matter to the high command if he was asked to do so.
Yeddyurappa’s view
Meanwhile, Mr. Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bangalore that in the present circumstances, there was no proposal before him to either forge an alliance with the BJP or merge his outfit with it. He said he would retain the identity of the Karnataka Janata Paksha. Replying to a query, he said he has high respect for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. We share a good personal relation, he added.