Shimoga: Ending months of speculation, former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday said he would return to the BJP, which he had deserted to form his own outfit more than a year ago.
"I will give sweet news in the first week of New Year. I know the party which I built has suffered due to my absence.I will not only rejoin my parental party but also tour the entire state to strengthen the hands of Narendra Modi to make him the Prime Minister," Yeddyurappa said.
The talk about the homecoming of Yeddyurappa had gained more currency in recent weeks with state leaders making intensified efforts to bring him back and the former BJP strongman also giving enough indications about it.Yeddyurappa's statement to reporters at his home constituency of Shikaripura in Shimoga district comes a day after he told a Karnataka Janatha Paksha party workers meet here that "this may become the final KJP meet."He said he had spoken to BJP President Rajnath Singh and even the state leaders had been talking about the necessity of his return."I grew up in the RSS parivar. I could become the Chief Minister only because of the blessings and support of the party," he said, adding his return was 'unconditional'.He said the Congress had benefited as a result of the BJP and KJP contesting the May 8 assembly elections separately in the state.Garnering 10 per cent vote share and six seats, Yeddyurappa had damaged the prospects of the then ruling BJP but failed to make an impact as an independent entity.Yeddyurappa said he had left the BJP out of "inevitable circumstances."He said the BJP had won 19 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka in the last elections and his effort in the 2014 parliamentary polls would be to get more number of seats.He said after assembly polls, KJP had planned to have a tie-up with BJP but "on clearance from BJP high command" to induct him back he has decided to merge KJP with BJP.Yeddyurappa, a strongman from the majority Lingayat community, was made to quit as Chief Minister in July 2011 over findings of Lokayukta indicting him on illegal mining issue. Sidelined by BJP central leadership subsequently, Yeddyurappa had formed KJP in December last year, ending his 40-year-long association with BJP.
Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa’s first public stint was his appointment as secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Shikaripur unit in 1970.
In 1980, BSY was appointed president of the Shikaripura taluk unit of the BJP. Soon he went on to become the president of BJP’s Shimoga district unit in 1985. And in 1988, he became the state president of the BJP in Karnataka.Yeddyurappa was first elected to the Karnataka assembly in 1983 and has since represented the Shikaripura constituency six times. In 1994, he became the leader of Opposition in the assembly.In 2006, H D Kumarasamy led JD(S) and BJP formed the government under an agreement that HDK would be CM for the first 20 months, after which BSY would take over. BSY was the deputy CM and finance minister. In October 2007, when Kumarasamy did not give up CM’s post, Yeddyurappa and all BJP ministers quit. Karnataka came under President’s rule till 7 November when JD(S) and BJP came together again, with BSY as CM. JD(S) refused support to BSY over disagreement on sharing of ministries which resulted in BSY resigning as CM. In 2008 election, Yeddyurappa led BJP to historic victory as he claimed the CM’s chair on 30 May 2008.In November 2010, allegations surfaced against Yeddyurappa in multiple corruption cases. Facing pressure from BJP leadership, he quit on 31 July 2011. Yeddyurappa was arrested on 15 October 2011 and granted bail on 8 November 2011 after spending 23 days in jail.In March 2012, the Karnataka HC quashed the FIR registered against him in the mining scam which prompted him to demand back chief ministership. He forced his handpicked successor Sadananda Gowda to quit. Karnataka is now ruled by Jagadish Shettar.With his demands falling on deaf ears, B S Yeddyurappa decided to quit BJP and launch his own party, which he has named Karnataka Janata Party. He leaves to make his own plans.With tears rolling down his cheeks, estranged Karnataka strongman B.S. Yedddyurappa on Friday resigned from the primary membership of the BJP, ending his 40 year old association with saffron party.
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