Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, who had earlier announced his plans to desert the saffron party on Wednesday started the activities for his new party.
“On the auspicious day of Vijayadashami, we have started activities of our new party, which will be formally launched in December,” said Yeddyurappa.
Speaking to reporters after holding discussions with his close confidants, the disgruntled BJP leader said, “On December 9, I will resign from the BJP and launch a new party on the same day.”The former chief minister who fell out with both the state and central party leaders said that he is not launching the party to either become the CM or party president but for the overall development of the state. “During my three-and-half year tenure I worked for the development of the state. Even now, the overall development of Karnataka continues to be my top priority,” he said.
Claiming that there is no truth in the media reports suggesting that the BJP high command is trying to convince him to stay in the party, he said,”They have not spoken to me. I also do not have any interest to speak to them. Continuing in the BJP is a closed chapter.”
Yeddyurappa also held an hour-long discussion with the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) founder president Padmanabha Prasanna. “We discussed various issues related to our party activities in the days ahead. On November 9, we will formally invite Yeddyurappa to become KJP president,” Prasanna told Express.
According to Prasanna, the KJP will contest elections under Yeddyurappa’s leadership. “The BJP leaders asked Yeddyurappa to resign from the CM’s post after he faced allegations. Why are they not seeking Nitin Gadkari’s resignation? BJP State president K S Eshwarappa must explain the same to people of the state,” he said.
