BENGALURU: BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa’s sudden visit to Ahmedabad to meet party national president Amit Shah amid the rumblings in the coalition government has set off speculations of one more round of ‘Operation Lotus’ in the state. However, Yeddyurappa on Tuesday scotched the reports by declaring that BJP has no plans to destabilise the coalition government.
“We will not try to indulge in any attempt to destabilise the coalition government. They will fight and fall on their own. There is no need for us to do anything,” Yeddyurappa told reporters on his return from Ahmedabad.
Denying reports in a section of the media about BJP’s plans to destabilise the coalition government, Yeddyurappa said that party national president Amit Shah is not in favour of any endeavour. “Amit Shah has issued clear instructions to us against interfering in the affairs of coalition partners Congress and JD(S). Where is the need to take any initiative to destabilise the government when the coalition partners are fighting in the open,” Yeddyurappa said.
Issues related to the selection of a new leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council, preparations for the next Lok Sabha election and the BJP state executive meet to be held on June 29 were discussed with Shah in Ahmedabad, Yeddyurappa said.
Ashoka likely to contest from Mandya
BJP has started preparations for the next Lok Sabha election. The party is contemplating to field many of its senior leaders to win a maximum number of seats to ensure Narendra Modi continues as the Prime Minister. The party is contemplating to field former deputy chief minister R Ashoka from Mandya Lok Sabha seat in the by-election, the schedule for which is yet to be announced, and the general election in 2019. The issue was discussed at a meeting of senior leaders held at Yeddyurappa’s residence on Tuesday.