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The fissures in the State BJP came out into the open with B S Yeddyurappa stating here on Sunday that he would not be campaigning for the party candidate in the by-election to the Lok Sabha from Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency.
Speaking to the mediapersons here on Sunday, the former chief minister, who was here to attend a felicitation programmes organised for him by his followers, said Chief Minister D V Sadanand Gowda himself had said there were still eight cases pending against him (Yeddyurappa).
Therefore, he did not want to embarrass the partymen by participating in the campaigning work.

“Mr Sadananda Gowda and BJP State President K S Eshwarappa have been working day and night to ensure the success of the party candidates in the by-elections. My presence there may have adverse impact on the prospects of the party candidates as there are cases still pending against me. I do not want their (Sadanand Gowda and Eshwarappa) efforts go down the drain,” he said, with heavy sarcasm.

Caustic remarks

Yeddyurappa’s caustic and bitter remarks against his successor and the state BJP chief as well as the party central leadership in Delhi, indicated that while the former chief minister was not taking a hasty political step, he would not rule it out either.

Yeddyurappa said he had instructed ministers and MLAs supporting him not to pressure the Bharatiya Janata Party high command to accord him any post.

The former chief minister said he would not accept the State BJP chief’s post even if the high command offered it to him. “I have decided not to pressure anybody for any post,” he said.

Yeddyurappa also said he sought the chief minister’s post as he wanted to present a Rs one-lakh-crore budget this year. “I had no other intentions behind seeking the Chief Minister’s post,” he said.

Taking a dig at Eshwarappa for his barbs at him visiting New Delhi, Yeddyurappa said: “Eshwarappa has said, I am visiting Delhi often to help the ailing airline service providers.
From now onwards, I will not visit Delhi. Instead, I will tour all over the state to listen to the people’s grievances.”

The former chief minister who was shown the door for his alleged role in mining scams said his followers were planning to organise felicitations for him in 10 other places.

“The main intention behind the programmes is to felicitate me on my 70th birthday, but not as shows of strength to pressure the high command,” Yeddyurappa said.