From Our Special Correspondent
Daijworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Sep 28: Without former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa as president of State unit of BJP, the party is doomed in the next assembly elections, said BJP MLC D S Veeraiah on Friday.
The Dalit leader, who owes his legislative council seat to the Lingayat strongman, said the BJP high command should immediately take a decision on appointing Yeddyruappa as the State BJP President if the party has to return to power.
''It is upto the party high command to take a decision on the future of the former chief minister within the party,” he said pointing out that the decision must be taken soon, preferably within the next couple of months.
Veeraiah said the BJP came to power four years ago on the strength and popularity of Yeddyurappa and consolidated its position in the State under Yeddyurappa’s leadership as is evident from the party’s victory in almost all byelections from the State held after 2008 and also the 2009 lok sabha polls.
The party high command should hold talks with the former Chief Minister and appoint him as the president of the State BJP soon, which would help the party to go to elections with a lot of confidence, he said.
However, BJP National President Nitin Gadkari on Thursday indirectly slammed Yeddyurappa, who was facing charges of corruption, for making claims to the post of the State BJP chief by openly stating that the party was more important than an individual and it was the party workers, who are more important.
But Veeraiah felt the BJP would lose its popularity without the Lingayat strongman Yeddyurappa, who enjoys popular support all over the State and is widely respected among all communities.
The central leaders of the party have to hold consultation with state BJP leaders to diffuse differences of opinion on the issue of appointing new State BJP chief and go to polls under the leadership of Yeddyurappa, the MLC said.
The BJP desperately required the backing of the former Chief Minister, who had launched several welfare schemes during the three years in office.
The party would not come to power in the next elections without his support, the MLC claimed.