B S Yeddyurappa faces big hurdle in race for Karnataka state BJP chief

Bengaluru: Former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa may have overcome a major obstacle with the high court giving him a reprieve in land related corruption cases but he is likely to face a bigger hurdle within the BJP in the race for the party state pres0ident’s post.

Mr Yeddyurappa has enough opponents in his party who are trying hard to stop him from getting the president post. To block his re-entry into state politics, Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers Ananth Kumar is supporting the candidature of former deputy chief minister R. Ashok-the Vokkaliga face of the party-for the president’s post. Leaders who have been opposing Mr Yeddyurappa are secretly joining hands with Ananth Kumar and supporting the candidature of Mr Ashok, said a senior BJP member in the Legislative Council.

Interestingly, another prominent BJP leader in the organisation is opposing the candidature of both Mr Yeddyurappa and Mr Ashok for the president’s post. This senior leader is trying hard to prevent the Ananth and Yeddyurappa groups from gaining the upper hand in the party and is subtly backing former minister and party general secretary C.T. Ravi. Though Mr Ravi is a second rung leader, there are many in the party hierarchy who do not want Mr. Ashok to become president, said sources. Mr. Ravi who is aware of the developments, is trying his best to make the best of the situation.

He knows he is too young to take up the responsibility of party president but said the party will take the right decision which would benefit it the most. It is a known fact that the new BJP state president will lead the party in the 2018 Assembly elections if it decides not to project a CM face. So opponents of Mr Yeddyurappa are active trying their best to prevent him from entering state politics and maybe throw his hat in the ring for CM again if the BJP sweeps the polls. Meanwhile, incumbent president Prahlad Joshi has reportedly expressed his desire to continue for a second term.

Party senior leader Aravind Limbavali is also in the reckoning for the president post. The central leadership likely to take call in December regarding appointment of the new president, sources said.

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