BANGALORE: Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa may be made the chairman of the election campaign committee, according to the party sources. “This is the face-saving formula not only to the party but also to Yeddyurappa. While the former chief minister would feel that his demand for a position has been met, the party would heave a sigh of relief for having pulled the organisation back from the near-abyss,” source told Express.
According to sources, the party could not think of making Yeddyurappa the party state president during the expansion of the ministry as it had to accommodate K S Eshwarappa, the present state party president.
The post of election campaign committee chairman was not specific to March 18 Udupi-Chikamagalur bypoll but for the Assembly elections to be held next year.
“What’s wrong in having a year-long preparation for the elections? We have planned series of mega programmes during April and May to infuse dynamism among the cadre. Yeddyurappa will be the key person in all these programmes,” the sources explained.
The post of the chairman of the campaign committee will entail Yeddyurappa to go on constant tours and address workers meetings and large gatherings. “This arrangement will assuage the hurt feelings of the Lingayat community,” a leader said.
Sources said Yeddyurappa had told Gadkari, “Eshwarappa said my state tours had no sanction of the party. Is it not an attempt to curb my movements and stifle my voice? Don’t you think that an important appointment as that of Upa Lokayukta deserved my consultation? What is everybody upto?” In response, according to sources, Gadkari assured him of “justice” at the earliest.