BS Yeddyurappa sets sights high, aims at 150 seats in 2018

Mysuru: Former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa made no secret of his ambition to remain in state politics declaring on Tuesday that it was his ‘one-point agenda’ to ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party wins more than 150 seats in the next assembly elections due in 2018 and comes to power.

“I am involving myself in state politics,” asserted Mr Yeddyurappa, now BJP Vice-President and Shivamogga MP. There has been speculation that Mr Yeddyurappa –who is still caught in a number of land denotification cases- is the frontrunner for BJP state president once Pralhad Joshi relinquishes charge.

Answering a query by the media here, the veteran leader said, “It is upto the party high command to decide on the leadership of the state BJP. The fact that there are more aspirants for the post only proves the strength of the party. We are all together.”

Mr Yeddyurappa hit out at Chief Minister Siddaramaih saying that the Central government had already released Rs 1,540 crore for drought relief but the Chief Minister was yet to draw the amount.

At a BJP convention in Nanjangud, he alleged that the administration had totally collapsed.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is busy criticising Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. People of his hometown should teach him a lesson by choosing the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in the Council elections,” he said.

Mr Yeddyurappa claimed that even funds allotted for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in 2014 had not been fully utilised.