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BANGALORE: Having virtually detached himself from the BJP, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is reportedly charting his own course by moving into a new office on Friday. Speculation is rife that he is preparing to float a Karnataka Janata Party.

Yeddyurappa’s office will be the BJP’s old premises on 17th Cross, Malleswaram, a few streets away from the swanky party office, Jagannath Bhavan on 11th cross. The former CM is vacating his residence on Race Course Road where he had stayed as opposition leader in 2004, and then as deputy CM in 2006 and CM in 2008. It had reportedly brought him luck.

On Thursday, Yeddyurappa visited the new office to supervise arrangements for its inauguration. "We’re taking this office on rent,’’ he told reporters. He met his followers there to discuss the portraits that should adorn the walls. Some legislators suggested the premises should have a secular image; hence, portraits of prominent Muslim and Christian religious leaders should find place. In the morning, a picture of Sonia Gandhi was reportedly put up but quickly removed by evening.

Though Yeddyurappa has invited BJP leaders, not many are expected to attend the opening ceremony as they fear they would be accused of indulging in anti-party activity. A senior leader said the Lingayat strongman hopes the BJP will suspend or expel him so he can invoke the sympathy factor.

However, sources said the reason for shifting base is that State Planning Board deputy chairman Ramachandra Gowda’s term as an MLC is ending and he will file his nomination to recontest on Friday. The Race Course Road house is in Gowda’s name; it was allotted to him in his capacity as deputy chairman. He had to resign the post before filing his nomination.

Yeddyurappa announced he would pay rent for the new office, which actually belongs to an MLC close to him.

While state BJP president KS Eshwarappa declined to comment on the development, chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda said everything would resolved soon. "Eshwarappa and I will be at the BJP national executive meeting in Mumbai from May 24. We’ll discuss issues like strengthening the party," he said.