Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (RJP)

Kundapur, Jan 24: That the BJP is stepping up its efforts to enhance its presence in Karnataka in a bid to root out the Congress government was very much evident on Saturday January 24, as two of its prominent leaders tried to woo, and not for the first time, a former BJP member who was and is popular among the people here.

BJP vice-president and Shivamogga MP B S Yeddyurappa along with Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday called on Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivasa Shetty and invited him to join the BJP party.

But Shetty who had won the last election as an independent with the highest margin in the state made it clear that he will remain as an independent till the expiry of his term.

A seemingly unfazed Yeddyurappa told reporters later, "Halady is a man of principles and he has still three more years to go. As he was elected as an independent, he cannot just join a party and compromise with his principles.

"Karnataka may see elections soon. We will win more than 150 seats with the help of the party workers. We will get a majority in Delhi elections," he added.

Shobha Karandlaje who spoke later said, "In the forthcoming gram panchayat elections, BJP should be strengthened from the grassroot level itself. When I stood for elections, I won with majority votes because Halady Srinivasa Shetty and Kiran Kodgi supported me."

Halady Srinivasa Shetty speaking to the reporters said, "The voters chose me as an independent. I will continue as an independent only. My supporters have stood by me all the time. I feel proud that even the Narendra Modi wave did not touch my supporters. Joining a political party is an issue for the future which only my supporters can decide."

BJP district president Vikramarjuna Hegde, Kiran Kumar Kodgi from Amasebail, Zilla panchayat vice president Prakash Mendon, Zilla panchayat members rashvath Kumar Sheety, Ganapathy Sriyan, taluk panchayat president Bhaskar Billava, taluk panchayat president Deepika Shetty, taluk panchayat members Raghavendra Balikere, Halady Ramesh, Saligrama panchayat president Raju Poojary were present with others.