Rubbishing speculations that he might float his own outfit following reported differences with the BJP top brass, former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said he would work for strengthening the party as a loyal worker.
“Why should I float a new party? Over the years I have built the party (BJP) in the state. We had just two MLAs in the assembly. Now it is the number one party in the state,” Yeddyurappa told reporters here.
Yeddyurappa, who was released from prison on bail in a graft case yesterday, also dismissed reports that he wanted to be made the party state unit chief.
Reports in recent weeks suggested that Yeddyurappa might float his own party as he was unhappy with the party central leadership over his treatment in the aftermath of his indictment by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining and subsequent developments that undermined his role.
The absence of Yeddyurappa’s supporters in senior leader L K Advani’s rally here recently as part of his Jan Chetna Yatra brought to the fore intra-party differences fuelling further speculation about the former chief minister’s next move. “I am not an aspirant for any post including that of the state unit President. As a loyal worker of BJP, I will tour the state and strengthen the party,” Yeddyurappa said.
He blamed some forces including opposition for the corruption cases filed against him. “Some who are intolerant about my government’s achievements and the welfare schemes I initiated, hatched a conspiracy against me and I had to go to jail,” Yeddyurappa, arrested in a case relating to alleged irregularities in denotification of government lands, said.
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Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday reserved orders for November 15 on the anticipatory bail plea former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in connection with three private complaints filed against him in the Lokayukta Court.
Justice H Billappa posted for orders the applications of Yeddyurappa and three of his family members after conclusion of arguments. Yeddyurappa, his sons — B Y Raghavendra, MP, B Y Vijendra and son-in-law R N Sohan Kumar have sought anticipatory bail apprehending arrest in connection with the three of the five private complaints alleging irregularities in denotification of government lands.
The former chief minister was released from Judicial custody yesterday after another judge of the high court granted him bail in two private complaints in which he had been arrested on October 15. Advocate Sirajin Basha had filed the five complaints and the Lokayukta court had ordered the arrest of Yeddyurappa in two complaints after taking cognisance of them.