Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Dec 19: “At present, I am just a BJP MLA. I have not set any deadline for the national leaders of BJP to give me positions of responsibility. BJP is the party I have built in the state. I can never even dream of leaving it ever. I have not been harbouring any interest towards building a regional party. Regional parties have no future in Karnataka. I am confident that BJP will win 150 out of 224 assembly seats in the state in the next election,” he said.

The former Chief Minister was in Dharmasthala to offer special puja and Rudrebhisheka to Lord Manjunatheshwara here on Sunday December 18. He also participated in a marriage function along with energy minister, Shobha Karandlaje, and leader, Bharati Shetty. He was accompanied by district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar, B Nagaraja Shetty, and various other leaders during his visit to Dharmasthala.

About Sriramulu, he said that the disgruntled MLA is free to do what he wants to. Yeddyurappa revealed that he will welcome Sriramulu into the party fold, if he wants to return to his parent party, as he had deserted BJP due to mistaken notions. Pointing out that all the MLAs who had sided with Sriramulu are continuing with BJP now, he felt that a new party, if formed, will not last long.

Reiterating his confidence in Chief Minister, D V Sadananda Gowda’s victory in the legislative council bypoll on December 22, Yeddyurappa said that he is not aware of the details of discussions 17 MPs from the state had with party national president, Nitin Gadkari, and leader, L K Advani, when they met these leaders.