Section of Karnataka BJP pushing for Yeddyurappa's return to party fold

Bangalore, Sept 3: A section of Karnataka BJP members has made a fresh push towards bringing former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa back into the party fold, saying the move would yield significant dividends in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Former CM DV Sadananda Gowda, ex-minister Basavaraja Bommai and Arvind Limbavalli today left for Gujarat to meet BJP Campaign Committee Chairman Narendra Modi, aiming to impress upon him the need for a quick decision in the matter.

Yeddyurappa quit BJP last December after accusing a section of the party's state and national leaders of hatching a conspiracy to sideline him and cut him to size.

He then floated the Karnataka Janatha Paksha (KJP), positioning it as a regional outfit which would work for the cause of the state.

In the May Assembly elections, KJP won a mere six seats in the 224-member House but, more importantly, secured nearly 10 per cent of the vote-share, denting BJP's electoral prospects and indirectly helping Congress to come to power after multi-cornered contests.

Yeddyurappa last week indicated that his party was not averse to an electoral understanding with Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, a comment which is being seen as a ploy by him to exert pressure on the BJP central leadership to take an early call on his return.

But the BJP high command does not seem to be in a hurry as general elections are still a few months away; it's no secret that there is no love lost between Yeddyurappa and party stalwart LK Advani.

At the state-level as well, senior party leaders HN Ananth Kumar and KS Eshwarappa are among those who are opposed to Yeddyurappa's return. These mebers have expressed apprehension that Yeddyurappa would go back to his "old ways" of trying to exert a stranglehold over the party.

While a section of state BJP is in favour of his return with a suitable position given to him in the party, the other faction wants Yeddyurappa to come back without any conditions, a stance unlikely to be accepted by the former CM.

But there is a general consensus that it's for the party's central leadership to take a call on his return, and a senior party leader commented that it would be a matter of time before BJP embraces him again.

The campaign seeking Yeddyurappa's return is expected to gather momentum once the ongoing session of Parliament ends, sources said.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

PM Modi vows to strengthen India-Maldives ties, inks currency swap deal with President Muizzu

News Network

October 7,2024

New Delhi: Seeking to strengthen bilateral ties, India and the Maldives on Monday inked a currency swap agreement to the tune of $400 million, a move that would help the archipelago nation overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu also launched Rupay card in the Maldives, inaugurated the new runway at the Hanimadhoo International airport and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations that had hit a rocky patch last year.

Muizzu, who is on a four-day state visit, held talks with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House here.

After the talks, India also handed over 700 social housing units to the Maldives built under the EXIM Bank’s buyer’s credit facilities.

"Today, we have inaugurated the redeveloped Hanimaadhoo Airport. Now, the Greater Male Connectivity Project will also be expedited. We will also support the development of a new commercial port in Thilafushi," Modi told reporters here with Muizzu by his side.

Modi said India and Maldives have decided to initiate discussion on the Free Trade Agreement to further strengthen economic ties.

The prime minister described Maldives as a "close friend" which had an important position in India's neighbourhood policy and SAGAR vision.

"India has always fulfilled the responsibilities of a neighbour. Today, we have taken up the vision of a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership to give our mutual cooperation a strategic direction," Modi said.

Earlier, Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Modi was also present on the occasion.

Muizzu was given a tri-services guard of honour before he drove down the Rajghat to offer his respects at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November.

Muizzu won the presidential election last year on the 'India out' campaign and asked New Delhi to withdraw its military personnel posted in the archipelago nation by May this year.

The bilateral ties also hit a rocky patch when Maldivian ministers were critical of Modi. However, Muizzu has since toned down his anti-India stance and even sacked ministers who were critical of the Indian prime minister.

As the Maldives was grappling with a serious economic downturn, India has decided to extend vital budgetary support to the Maldives government with the rollover of a $50 million Treasury Bill for another year.

Comments