From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 12: Claiming that he is confident of BJP returning to power with full majority, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday denied the charge by BJP MLC Lakshman Savadi that he sought to join the Congress party.

Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, he said he had stayed aloof in his residence and confirmed that senior BJP leaders B S Yediyurappa, Ananth Kumar, C C Patil and Lakshman Savadi had visited him to convince remain active in the party.

“I never contemplated joining the Congress party,’’ he said refuting the claim made by Savadi.

Bommai mentioned that it is not possible to please everybody. “I have spoken to Lakshman Savadi and have requested him not to take any hasty decision. The party has stood by him in the past and will always respect him. The party will do everything to protect his respect and honour,’’ he said assuring Savadi of a bright future in the BJP.

“I have an emotional bonding with Savadi and am in constant touch with him,’’ he said.

The Chief Minister said the selection of BJP candidates for 189 constituencies has been welcomed by all with some minor dissent as ‘only a few people are unhappy’.

Meanwhile, Savadi, who had also served as Deputy Chief Minister in BJP, wept profusely in Athani in Belagavi district, at being denied the party ticket in the assembly polls.

“I appeal to Yediyurappa and Bommai and other senior party leaders to reconsider their decision of denying him the BJP ticket and accommodate him even now,’’ he said urging them ``not to throw him out of the party.’’

Savadi said he had joined BJP in 2004 and had been working for the party in the last 20 years and urged the BJP leaders not to discredit his contribution merely because Mahesh Kumatahalli had played a big role in bringing the BJP to power by engineering defections from Congress and JD(S).

“Let Yediyurappa and Bommai come to Dharmasthala temple and tell me in the presence of Lord Manjunatha that I have not done anything for the party. I will take political sanyas if they do it and say that I have done nothing,’’ he vowed.

Savadi, however, has not indicated his future plans on whether he will contest as an independent or join Congress or JD(S).