There has been speculation, even within BJP, that Yeddyurappa, 75, may have to make way for Union minister Hegde.
Bengaluru: It is official: If the BJP wins the May Karnataka assembly elections, state party chief B.S. Yeddyurappa will be made chief minister and continue in the post.
BJP national general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Muralidhar Rao, has scotched all talk of an “imminent change of guard” that, it has been rumoured, will see Yeddyurappa removed from the chair shortly after the government is sworn in.
“It is like it was etched in stone, like an edict, Yeddyurappa is not the leader for the state just for the elections; he is our chosen leader for governance and will deliver what we have promised to all Kannadigas,” Rao said Sunday in a Facebook Live interview with ThePrint Associate Editor Rohini Swamy.
Rao’s assertion follows speculation, within BJP circles as well, that, Yeddyurappa would have to vacate the CM’s chair for controversial Union minister Ananth Kumar Hegde. The reason cited is Yeddyurappa’s age, 75.
This is despite the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a massive rally in Davangere on February 27 to celebrate Yeddyurappa’s 75th birthday, said the former CM would lead the BJP’s efforts to fulfil its promises once it was voted to power.
With the BJP’s historic performance in the northeast, the onus of victory in Karnataka has fallen on Yeddyurappa, the party’s tallest leader in the state, like in 2008.
A senior party official also dismissed talk that Yeddyurappa would be replaced, saying it had been concocted by some leaders within the party to create dissent.
Loan waiver
In Karnataka, the BJP has promised that, if elected, it would replicate the Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh model to offer a loan waiver to farmers. The Siddaramaiah government has already waived crop loans to the tune of Rs 8,165 crore taken by farmers from co-operative banks.
The Congress has alleged that the Centre had refused to accept Karnataka’s demand to waive Rs 42,000 crore in farmer loans taken from nationalised banks. However, Rao said the BJP “totally waived farmer loans once it came to power”, and would do the same in Karnataka.
The Yogi charm
In less than a month, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will return to campaign in Karnataka. Talking about his appeal, Rao said, “Yogi has zero tolerance for violence and will set an example to the Congress government that the BJP will not protect terrorists, criminals or separatists.”
“A lady roaming fearlessly is what we expect in Karnataka, but today what we see is a criminal roaming fearlessly and we will not allow it during our government. Yogiji has asked such violent elements to beware, and that’s what the BJP stands for too,” he added.