A tentative date has finally been set for BS Yeddyurappa’s entry to the NDA, notwithstanding reservations among a section of the BJP. His Karnataka Janata Paksha may join the NDA on December 6 – before the results of assembly elections in five states are announced.
On October 19, Yeddyurappa had made a formal request to NDA chairman LK Advani. “We expect the KJP to be a part of the NDA between the last round of polling on December 4 and December 8,” said a senior BJP leader.
Buzz about Yeddyurappa’s return to the BJP had started as soon as Narendra Modi was announced the party’s prime ministerial candidate. The two share a close relationship.
But given Yeddyurappa’s alleged involvement in corruption cases and strained relations with the BJP before he quit the party in November 2012, many in the party – including Advani – are not too keen to have him on board.
On the other hand, given the electoral clout the Lingayat leader has in Karnataka, a chunk of senior BJP leaders want Yeddyurappa back.
While his entry to NDA is seen as a first step towards a compromise, the dissenters are yet to be won over. The process has already started with South Bengaluru MP Ananth Kumar, a member of the BJP parliamentary board, said party sources. Kumar is understood to have given his green signal after heart-to-hearts with Modi and party chief Rajnath Singh. Kumar was advised to retain his grip on his South Bengaluru seat, where he might be challenged by Nandan Nilekani, chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India, on a Congress ticket.
{{/usCountry}}While his entry to NDA is seen as a first step towards a compromise, the dissenters are yet to be won over. The process has already started with South Bengaluru MP Ananth Kumar, a member of the BJP parliamentary board, said party sources. Kumar is understood to have given his green signal after heart-to-hearts with Modi and party chief Rajnath Singh. Kumar was advised to retain his grip on his South Bengaluru seat, where he might be challenged by Nandan Nilekani, chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India, on a Congress ticket.
{{/usCountry}}“All efforts are being made to bring the top BJP leadership on board before the decision,” said a senior BJP leader.