Former Union minister and KJP leader V Dhananjay Kumar today claimed the BJP top brass was trying to placate Karnataka strongman B S Yeddyurappa as they have realised that the party cannot survive without him. "BJP leaders are pretending Yeddyurappa's exit will not affect the party, but in reality realise the party cannot survive without him. Therefore, they are pleading with him not to leave the party," Kumar said at a rally in Mysore, some 140 km away from here.

"BJP would be routed out in the forthcoming Assembly elections if it was not led by Yeddyurappa," he said.

Kumar, acting president of Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), to be formally launched by the former chief minister on December 9, said "there was no question of Yeddyurappa remaining in BJP" and the Lingayat strongman would become a mighty leader at the Centre.

He charged BJP leaders with issuing confusing statements that Yeddyurappa would not lead the party.

Yeddyurappa, who played a key role in installing the first ever BJP government in the South, had stated yesterday there was "no change" in his plans to launch his regional party on December 9 at Haveri and that he was not floating a new political outfit to become Chief Minister or for any post.