Karnataka BJP: Yeddyurappa eyes grand return to top post

Updated: Thursday, January 14, 2016, 10:20 [IST]

Bengaluru, Jan 14: The process to appoint a new chief for the Karnataka BJP will commence next month after the elections to the local bodies. B S Yeddyurappa, former chief minister of Karnataka is back in the contention for the top post and several senior leaders of the party are seriously considering his candidature.

Yeddyurappa's claim to head the party was given a boost after the Karnataka High Court set aside 15 FIRs that were filed against him by the Lokayukta in connection with a corruption case.

A month back the High Court had also set the sanction granted by the Governor to prosecute Yeddyurappa. The matter was referred back to the governor for fresh consideration.

No reason to block candidature

Party leaders feel that there is no good reason now to block his candidature as the party president. The Karnataka BJP is in need of a strong leader and currently there is none better than Yeddyurappa, the BJP leaders in Delhi feel.

Further the equations in the BJP have changed when compared to 2011 when Yeddyurappa had to step down as the Chief Minister.

The BJP which has been on the back foot ever since it lost the elections to the Congress is seriously making attempts to resurrect itself in the state of Karnataka.

Sources close to Yeddyurappa confirmed to OneIndia that he is in the running for the post. He is keen on taking over as the president of the party and leading the BJP to victory in the next assembly elections, the source also said.

There is also talk that R Ashok, the former Deputy Chief Minister is also in the running for the post. However the leaders in Delhi are leaning more towards Yeddyurappa. This is primarily because Yeddyurappa has a wider reach in Karnataka.

The rural folk connect with him better and hence he is considered to be a better choice. It is important for the BJP to gain ground that they had lost to the Congress in the previous elections and hence there is a need for a mass leader, several BJP leaders feel.

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