Yeddyurappa to contest Lok Sabha polls from Shimoga

Bangalore, Jan 8: Former

chief minister B S Yeddyurappa is likely to contest the next Lok Sabha election as a

candidate from Shimoga constituency in the state, reports said.

Yeddyurappa, who recently merged his Karnataka Janatha Paksh (KJP) with the BJP, had earlier shown an interest to become the chairman of the BJP's Campaign Committee which would allow him to lead the saffron party's campaign to win the most number of seats for the party in the big battle due in a few months.

However, sources in the party said that Yeddyurappa, who had left the party in December 2012 over differences with the central leadership, was persuaded to contest from Shimoga. Currently, Yeddyrappa's son B Y Raghavendra represents Shimoga.

The BJP feels fielding BSY's son from Shimoga won't help the party

Insiders in the BJP feel that the party could suffer in Shimoga if Raghavendra is fielded again. The party had lost power in Karnataka last year after being plagued by serious corruption charges and is desperately looking to reverse its fortune. Yeddyurappa, the Lingayat strongman who had eaten into the BJP's votes, was also brought back after Narendra Modi officially became the face of the party last September.

BJP sources said if it forms government at the Centre under the leadership of Modi, Yeddyurappa would get a berth in the Union government.

The Janata Dal (Secular) is reportedly fielding Madhu Bangarappa, son of former chief minister S Bangarappa, from Shimoga while the Congress is planning to field either of Bangarappa's elder son Kumar or the primary and secondary education minister in the current Siddaramaiah government in the state, Kimmane Ratnakar.

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