Yeddyurappa formally launches Karnataka Janata Party

Mangalore Today/ PTI

Haveri, Dec 9: Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa formally launched the newly minted Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) and took over as its President at a massive rally in Haveri in north Karnataka today. After months of threats, behind the scene bargaining and public displays of strong emotion, Mr Yeddyurappa had finally quit the BJP at the end of November.

In a sign of potential trouble for the BJP government in the state, at least 10 ruling party MLAs attended the rally ignoring the party warnings to legislators and other leaders to keep away from it. Prior to the launch, Mr Yeddyurappa also hosted a breakfast meeting which was attended by at least 21 BJP MLAs, seven MLCs and four Lok Sabha MPs. Actress Pooja Gandhi, who was with the JD(S), was also there to join the KJP.

 

Today’s event can be billed as a show of strength. Thousands of people turned up in Haveri for Mr Yeddyurappa’s rally.

Sufficient numbers will give notice that the KJP could have a significant impact on next year’s assembly elections. Mr Yeddyurappa would like to play kingmaker if he cannot be the king.

 

 

Ahead of the launch of KJP, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had yesterday cracked the whip sacking Cooperative Minister B J Puttaswamy, a loyalist of Yeddyurappa, from the cabinet with BJP also suspending another staunch supporter and Tumkur MP G S Basavaraj from the party. Both were issued show cause notices.

Talking to reporters before the rally, Mr Yeddyurappa had dared the BJP leadership to dissolve the assembly and go before the people.

Mr Yeddyurappa said the BJP should understand that the Shettar government survived on the support of his loyalists. "If they (BJP) want the continuance of this government, which is nothing but a KJP-BJP coalition, they should desist from taking any disciplinary action against my supporters," he said.

Mr Yeddyurappa, who was forced to step down following corruption charges, had done much to build up the BJP’s presence in Karnataka, heading its first government in south India. But party heads did not agree to his repeated demands to be reinstated - or given the post of state party president.

Mr Yeddyurappa staged several shows of strength over the months - huddling with his followers in resorts outside Bangalore - and being openly critical of party leadership, especially long-time rival Ananth Kumar. But the high command did not relent - and Mr Yeddyurappa parted ways with the BJP after decades of being its most powerful leader in the state.

Mr Yeddyurappa still has his loyalists although so far none of the MLAs close to him have formally joined the KJP. Mr Yeddyurappa has stated that he does not want to bring down the government or embarrass the BJP with his new party. Given his past record, the BJP leadership will be taking that claim with a liberal pinch of salt.