Bengaluru, Apr 17 (Express News Service): BJP’s chief ministerial candidate and newly appointed state president B S Yeddyurappa has decided against using a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado car for his drought yatra. Instead, he will take the train.
The car, worth Rs 1.16 crore, was gifted to him by his loyalist and former industries minister Murugesh Nirani to tour drought-hit districts of the state starting April 27.
Yeddyurappa had to abandon the move after criticism for using a swanky SUV to study problems of the poor, particularly farmers reeling under a severe drought.
“I have decided to tour the drought-hit districts by train. I am not using the car gifted by Nirani. I only use it occassionally. Nirani can take back his car anytime,” Yeddyurappa said.
On Friday, he had acknowledged Nirani’s gesture by saying, “He (Nirani) has gifted me the car for comfort and safety during my tour to drought-hit areas.”
The car, which was bought in January and registered at Bengaluru West RTO in the name of Nirani Sugars, first made its appearance at Yeddyurappa’s residence on Friday and grabbed the eyeballs of mediapersons. Nirani apparently gifted it to honour his mentor’s appointment as state BJP chief.
This is not the first time Nirani is gifting a car to Yeddyurappa. He had gifted a Toyoto Fortuner car to Yeddyurappa when he stepped down as the chief minister and wanted to embark on a state tour to demonstrate his popularity. In political circles, Nirani is seen as Yeddyurappa’s moneybag.
“This is the reason why Yeddyurappa gifted Nirani, who was a first-time MLA, with the plum portfolio of industries, normally given to the senior and experienced MLAs,” said a senior BJP leader.
Some in the BJP also feel that Nirani is trying to reconnect with Yeddyurappa sensing the possibility of the latter’s return as CM after the 2018 elections.