Bangalore: Close on the heels of state BJP leaders meeting party president Rajnath Singh on reentry of former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, top leaders of Karnataka Janata Party on Saturday authorized the Lingayat strongman to take the final call either on merger or a seat-sharing pact with BJP in next year’s elections to Lok Sabha.
Sources in the party said the decision to authorize Yeddyurappa was taken at a meeting attended by working president Shobha Karandlaje and others at the former chief minister’s residence.
While he would discuss the issue with other leaders again on the eve of the executive committee scheduled for December 9, the sources said Yeddyurappa would factor in the performance of BJP in elections held in five northern states before making up his mind either to merge the party or strike an alliance with BJP.
The sources said at today’s meeting, the leaders suggested that Yeddyurappa should act only after Rajnath Singh and other central leaders of BJP adopt a firm stand on his return to the party.
The former chief minister, who discussed reasons for national general secretary H N Ananth Kumar taking the initiative to get him back in the party, felt that his bete noire was making a genuine attempt to facilitate his return, the sources added.
On Thursday, Ananth Kumar, state unit president, Pralhad Joshi and former deputy chief minister K.S. Eshwarappa met Rajnath Singh in Delhi and urged him to pave the way for Yeddyurappa’s return to BJP before Lok Sabha elections.
