BANGALORE: “Discretion is the better part of valour” is the dictum which former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa might have taken seriously as he seems to have decided to bide his time, even though he is making some efforts through his supporters to get a position in the BJP.
BJP sources in Delhi told Express over phone that party’s national president Nitin Gadkari conveyed to Yeddyurappa through a common friend — an industrialist — to be patient, restrain his supporters from making provocative statements and strengthen his position within the organisation by endearing himself to the cadres, something which he had not been able to do when he was the CM.
“The message was sent to Yeddyurappa through a common friend of both leaders, who is not a politician. You can see a change in the tone and tenor of Yeddyurappa since Friday,” a BJP leader said. The BJP central leadership does not attach too much importance to Yeddyurappa’s state tour as the former CM has made it clear that it is aimed at strengthening the party and not to rock the government or embarrass the party.
“He (Yeddyurappa) is the leader of the entire state. He is free to tour anywhere he wants. What is wrong in it?” a party leader asked. On the stand-off between Yeddyurappa and state BJP president K S Eshwarappa, he said the leadership would like to allow time to heal the wound instead of letting others intervene in the issue.
Nirani backs BSY
Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani has said he urged Gadkari to give a suitable post to Yeddyurappa. “I called on Gadkariji to invite him to the Global Investors Meet and a function to be organised by the sugar factory owned by my family members. I told that Yeddyurappa needed to be given a post befitting his stature and contribution,” Nirani told Express from Delhi.