B S Yeddyurappa, whose tenure as Chief Minister was marked by charges of corruption and nepotism, today rejoined BJP merging his Karnataka Janata Paksha with it, a year after his exit from the parent party.
It was a low profile homecoming for Yeddyurappa at a function at the BJP state headquarters here, as the party seeks to revive its fortunes in Lok Sabha polls with his pan state image combined with his appeal as Lingayat strongman.
Yeddyurappa was welcomed by state unit President Prahlad Joshi and other senior state leaders, as he was given primary membership of BJP, with which he had snapped his four decades old association to form KJP in December 2012.
“Let us forget the past....let us remove mutual suspicion and work together as the children of a mother”, said Yeddyurappa, who announced KJP-BJP merger a week ago, capping unity efforts after central leadership gave the green signal.
Indicted by Lokayukta over illegal mining issue, BJP top brass had forced a reluctant Yeddyurappa to quit as Chief Minister in July 2011.
Unforgiving and bitter, Yeddyurappa had left his successors D V Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar, both his choice, in a state of instability before forming KJP.
KJP wrecked ruling BJP’s chances retaining power in the May Assembly polls winning six seats and 10 per cent vote share but failed to expand its political space, leaving an uncertain future for Yeddyurappa. His return is being used by BJP’s rivals to puncture its anti-corruption claims.
In his speech at the welcome ceremony, Yeddyurappa said “certain wrong decisions” on their part had brought Congress back to power in Karnataka, which was an “unpardonable crime.”