BANGALORE: Continuing to mount pressure on the party to reinstate him to the top post, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has convened a meeting of his supporters on Sunday in order to send a stern message to the BJP’s central leadership to provide him “justice” by keeping its word. Yeddyurappa’s contention is that if it was logical for him to resign when his name figured in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining, then on the same token, when the High Court quashed the FIR filed by the Lokaykta and also termed the Governor’s sanction for prosecution as wrong and bad in law, he ought to be reinstated. “The party’s central leadership had promised to bring me back as CM if no constiutitional body — Lokayukta or Commission of Inquiry — was holding a probe against me,” Yeddyurappa said, who has not been contradicted either by the state or the central leadership. On Saturday, the political circles were agog with rumours that Yeddyurappa will be sworn in as chief minister on Monday and he will present the Budget on Wednesday. The other theory making rounds is that the Lingayat strongman will be “merciful” to Sadananda Gowda, who would present the Budget on Wednesday and immediately resign for Yeddyurappa to take over.When contacted by Express, national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan — who is in charge of Karnataka affairs — said he was not aware of such developments as he was busy finalising his nomination papers to fight the Rajya Sabha elections from Bihar. “I am not in touch with any leaders from Karnataka and hence it is unfair for me to comment either way,” he added. While state BJP president K S Eshwarappa described the rumour of the change of guard as “nonsense”, none of the pro-Yeddyurappa ministers and legislators were willing to say anything categorical. In fact, their eerie silence was eloquent, suggestive of something major happening soon. The Sunday meeting assumes importance as it comes two days ahead of the crucial Budget session starting on Tuesday and presentation of the Budget by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday. Added to this speculation is Eshwarappa’s statement that the cadre has been told to get ready for snap polls to the Assembly. Later, he, however, clarified that his emphasis was on mid-term polls to the Lok Sabha.
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