'My next priority is to make Advani PM'

The BJP's chief ministerial candidate says his next priority would now be to win all the 28 LS seats from the state in the general elections. BS Yeddyurappa | A ProfileWake-up call for CongressBJP takes Karnataka: Pics

BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Karnataka, on Tuesday said after a good show in the Assembly polls his next priority would now be to win all the 28 Lok Sabha seats from the state in the general elections to ensure that the party leader LK Advani becomes the prime minister.

"Now we have realised the dream of installing BJP government in Karnataka as per the wish of (party leaders) Atalji and Advaniji. We will now focus attention in ensuring that Advani becomes Prime Minister by winning all the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the next election," Yeddyurappa told PTI in an interview on Tuesday.

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Yeddyurappa (66) attributed BJP's good performance in the just concluded Assembly polls to "betrayal by JDS", which he said played an important role.

People were waiting for an opportunity to teach lesson to JDS and displayed their anger by supporting BJP, a beaming Yeddyurappa said, referring to decision by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda led JD(S) to withdraw support to his government just a week after it was installed last year.

The collapse of the Yeddyurappa ministry led to fresh elections in the state. "The good programmes I gave in two budgets. Issues like price rise and terrorism which we raised during polls have also helped us to romp home with a good number of seats for government formation," Yeddyurappa said recalling his stint as Finance Minister in the previous Kumaraswamy led JDS-BJP government.

While campaigning for the polls, Yeddyurappa, kept on reminding electorate about the acts of betrayal by JDS on power transfer, while his party's central leaders led by LK Advani attacked Congress over price rise, terrorism and also JD(S).

BJP won 110 seats in the 224 member House and formally staked claim to form the Government after obtaining the support of five independents to cross the magic figure of 113 to attain simple majority. Yeddyurappa has been elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party and formally staked claim to form the Government. He is expected to be sworn in as Chief Minister on Friday.