Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Nov 19: State BJP is buoyant at the prospects of having impressive personalities, former minister Jayaprakash Hegde, and independent MLA from Kundapur, Halady Srinivas Shetty, in its fold. The party is preparing to hold an elaborate function to welcome these two leaders into the party.
Former MLA and MP, Jayaprakash Hegde, met BJP state president, B S Yeddyurappa, in the city on Friday November 18 night and held discussions with him. Hegde, accompanied by state general secretary of the party, Shobha Karandlaje, and former deputy chief minister, R Ashok, went to the residence of Yeddyurappa in Dollars Colony in the city and discussed about his joining the party.
Sources claim that Jayaprakash Hegde is under pressure to officially join the BJP at the unity convention of backward communities being held by BJP on November 27 here, in which national BJP president, Amit Shah, will be participating. Hegde, it is said, talked to Yeddyurappa in the backdrop of this pressure.
Hegde confirmed that his followers and voters of his constituency have unanimously urged him to join the BJP. He however, hastened to add that no final decision has been taken as yet about joining the BJP on November 27.
Ashok said that no one will be joining the party at the said programme being held at palace ground on November 27, but a few will come in after December 1.
Halady Srinivas Shetty, who left BJP after getting a feeling of having been sidelined after his name was dropped from the list of ministers at the last minute without informing him in advance, has also decided to come back into the fold of his parent party. He is expected to shortly announce his decision. It is almost certain that Halady will be the BJP candidate from Kundapur for legislative assembly in the next election. If Shobha opts to enter the assembly by resigning her Lok Sabha seat, Hegde may be made the Lok Sabha candidate of BJP during the next election, it is learnt. Halady too had separate discussions with Yeddyurappa on Friday night. During this talk, C T Ravi was also present, as per information.