Nitin Gadkari in Bangalore, Emotional Yeddyurappa Sets Another Deadline
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Feb 24: The 'lunch party' thrown by former chief minister Yeddyurappa on Thursday February 23, termed as a 'show of strength' to prove his support among the MLAs was an occasion for the beleaguered former CM to set one more deadline for the BJP national bosses.
The meeting was arranged ahead of BJP national president Nitin Gadkari's visit to Bangalore for the 'Chintana Manthana Baithak' for BJP partymen, to be inaugurated on Friday February 24. Gadkari landed in Bangalore late night on Thursday.
Yeddyurappa is understood to have given the BJP high command time till February 27 to bring him back to power as CM, failing which he said he would 'go his way'. Though no resolution was passed at the meeting, it is reported that as many as 35 legislators signed a memorandum insisting that their leader be made CM once again.
The meeting was also witness to tears and emotional pleas from Yeddyurappa and his hardcore loyalists like Shobha Karandlaje, Renukacharya and others. With moist eyes, he said that though Sadananda Gowda had vowed to vacate the post of CM and pave the way for him within six months, he did not do so and has broken his promise.
"Despite building the party from scratch, I am now made to beg for a post that I deserve. My own have cheated me," he said amidst tears. Sources said that listening to his speech, even Shobha Karandlaje and Renukacharya turned emotional.
"Nitin Gadkari had promised me that I would be reinstated in six months. It is time he fulfils his promise," BSY added.
Yeddyurappa is also understood to have made peace with Jagadish Shettar, who was a prominent face at the meeting, and asked his support to bring DVS down.
However, the general mood at the party was divided, with not all legislators, especially RSS loyalists, favouring Yeddyurappa's comeback. The 'show of strength' was diffused by the presence of party state president Eshwarappa and a quick visit by chief minister Sadananda Gowda himself, who tried their best to make it seem like a normal get-together.
Though it is unlikely that BJP high command would be in a mood to listen to Yeddyurappa's demands, the former CM is expected to place his demand before Gadkari, along with complaints against DVS stating that he was running the government on the advice of JD(S) chief Deve Gowda.
On the other hand, DVS is planning to make a counter-complaint against Yeddyurappa and his associates alleging that they have been unncessarily creating fissions in the party and making false allegations against him. DVS also held a secret meeting with RSS chief Prabhakar Bhat in Mangalore, though the details of the same are under wraps.
Nitin Gadkari has already arrived in Bangalore, and it would be interesting to see what transpires during his stay.