Date:21/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/21/stories/2007112159280100.htm

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Yeddyurappa to lead BJP in polls

Karnataka Bureau

To resume “dharma yuddha” campaign

Photo: K. Gopinathan

EVOLVING THE STRATEGY: A day after the fall of the BJP-led government in Karnataka, BJP leaders (from right) Yashwant Sinha, B. S. Yeddyurappa and Sadananda Gowda arrive for a meeting in Bangalore on Tuesday. —

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday declared that it would face elections in Karnataka under the leadership of B.S. Yeddyurappa, who quit as Chief Minister on Monday after an eight-day stint.

The party, deciding to resume its “dharma yuddha,” held hectic parleys at a meeting of its legislators and office-bearers on Tuesday. It will focus on what it called the “political betrayal” by the Janata Dal (Secular).

State president Sadananda Gowda told journalists that they were confident that Mr. Yeddyurappa would bounce back like as did the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

(In 1996, 13 days after heading a coalition government, Mr. Vajpayee quit as Prime Minister but occupied the post again after the 1998 general election.)

Confusion in JD(S)

On the other hand, the JD(S) is seeking to establish unity amid much confusion within the rank and file. The job of keeping the flock together has fallen on its legislature party leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy.

He is reported to have told the dissident legislators that if they were keen on floating a regional party, he would only be “too willing” to join them. He, however, told The Hindu that the proposal was only a “loud thinking.”

Some party legislators are reportedly exploring the option of forming another coalition government.