From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 17: Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is mounting pressure on BJP high command to make him the State BJP President ahead of the coming assembly polls, declared that he was prepared to take his own decision on his political future if he was continued to be sidelined.

''My self-respect is important. I will chart my own course if my pride is hurt," he declared while addressing a massive public rally at Honnali near Davangere.

Yeddyurappa said he was grateful to the people for their continued support. ''Power and position are not important. I became chief minister because of the support of the people and had to quit due to political conspiracies against him," he said.

The Lingayat strongman said he had always stood by the farmers and will continue to espouse their cause. ''I will strive my best to improve their lot whether I am in power or not," he said.

Openly attacking his own party leaders for conspiring to dethrone him and joining hands with his opponents, he claimed that the public support for him had increased after he lost power. ''I am grateful to the people for their continued support to me," he asserted.

''Power and position are not important to me. I am not hankering after the Chief Minister’s post or party president," he said and declared that he would not stay on in the party if his self-respect was affected.

To a specific question from reporters, he said the present situation in the State BJP was indicative of his being sidelined. ''I will take my own decision if my self-respect is continued to be affected," he said.
 
“I am indebted to the people for supporting me even after losing the Chief Minister’s seat," Yeddyurappa said.

“More than the leaders from opposition parties, my own party members conspired against me and succeeded to remove me from the Chief Minister’s position," he said.

Pointing out that the recent nation-wide mid-term poll conducted by national TV channel, NDTV, proved his standing with the people, he said declaring that he would strive to Karnataka a model state if he becomes chief minister again.

''As long as I enjoy public support, I will come back to power and even become chief minister again,"  he said pointing out that he had strived to provide the most people-friendly and pro-farmer government during the three years of his rule.