Tumkur: Ran a Circus Company as Chief Minister - Yeddyurappa

Tumkur, Jan 20 (DHNS): It is now clear former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has not given up his ambition to reclaim the post he had to give up five months ago.

Yeddyurappa said he was not a saint to say he does not want to be the chief minister again. “The issue is left to the high command. I have dreams to make Karnataka a model state,” he said, after inaugurating a drinking water project for Gulur-Hebbur hoblis at Honnudike village in the taluk on Thursday.

“I virtually ran a circus company during my three and half years as chief minister. I had to do a tightrope walk during the period. While the Congress and the JD(S) tormented me, I also faced problems from my own people,” he said.

Yeddyurappa said he would remain strong for the next 15 years and that he would not sit quiet, but work for the good of society.

'I need your blessings'

He told the people that he had risen to the post of the chief minister from being just a town municipal council member. “I can reach any height, provided I have your blessings,” he said.

He claimed to have sanctioned many projects for at least 100 taluks out of the 115 taluks identified as backward in the Nanjundappa Committee report.

Lingayat seers meet BSY

More than 20 Lingayat seers, especially from North Karnataka, met former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa at the latter’s residence in Bangalore on Thursday evening and held discussions with him.

While the seers termed their visit a “courtesy call,” political observers feel that it is a well-timed move by Yeddyurappa to consolidate his losing grip over the party.

Yeddyurappa as chief minister had heaped largesse on the Lingayat mutts as part of a strategy to strengthen his base and has now sought their support in return. The former chief minister has been making contradictory statements on the leadership issue and his role in the party ever since he stepped down from the helm in July last, following corruption charges. Last year, the Lingayat seers had rallied behind Yeddyurappa at a time when the Central leadership was contemplating to change the leadership in the State.