Bangalore: Senior central and state unit leaders of the BJP were taken by surprise when former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who returned to the party a week ago, opted out of Lok Sabha polls.
During a day-long meeting with the top brass of RSS and BJP leaders here on Monday, the former Chief Minister not only ruled himself out of the fray but also disclosed that his son and Member of Parliament B.Y. RagÂhavÂendra would not seek reelection from his home-turf, Shimoga.
Instead, he recommended the candidature of former state unit chief K.S.Eshwarappa who was among those who facilitated his home-coming.
Sources in the party told Deccan Chronicle that Yeddyurappa reasoned that Eshwarappa, a Kuruba leader, would help offset the influence of Chief Minister SiddÂaramaiah on voters belonging to Kuruba community.
Besides, he was not keen on moving to national politics as he was unsure of being rewarded with a plum post by the BJP-led NDA in New Delhi.
“It will be an embarrassment for him to remain merely as Member of Parliament, so he does not want to move to national politics,” the sources said adding that the Lingayat strongman would work to consolidate his position in the state unit of BJP.
LS hopefuls throng BSY house
After B.S. Yeddyurappa returned to BJP, ticket aspirants are thronging his residence with requests that he back their candidature for the Lok Sabha elections.
The former Chief Minister, however, does not want to antagonize anyone in the party by demanding tickets for his supporters.
Besides, he is unhappy with the treatment meted out to him and his supporters after their return to BJP.
Much to the chagrin of Yeddyurappa, the leaders have not cleared the return of KJP campaign committee chairperson Dhananjay Kumar.
Kumar has been kept out for his earlier criticism of L.K. Advani.
