BS Yediyurappa

Talking to reporters, Yediyurappa said that the high command had proposed his son contest in the Varuna constituency. "I have told them not to go forward in this regard. I will also convince the high command," he said. There is no question of Vijayendra contesting from Varuna constituency. Since I am retiring from electoral politics.

Former Chief Minister and BJP Parliamentary Board Member B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday stated that the party is contemplating to field his son Vijayendra from Varuna constituency. The high command will take a call on finalising the candidature of Vijayendra for Varuna, he added. Siddaramaiah's victory won't come easily.

The party has elevated him to the core team in New Delhi and made him appeal to the Lingayat community not to have any bitter feelings towards the BJP for dethroning him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah (whose breakfast meeting with Yediyurappa on Friday was a major show of support) and Defence.

The development took place after party workers, allegedly supporters of BJP national General Secretary C.T. Ravi, surrounded Yediyurappa on Thursday afternoon, demanding that incumbent MLA from Mudigere M.P. Kumaraswamy be denied the ticket for re-election. Visibly disturbed by the turn of events, Yediyurappa turned back, leading to cancellation of the roadshow.

The statement assumes importance in the backdrop of the upcoming assembly polls in the state. "The full-fledged government should take shape in the state as per the wishes of Yediyurappa," Singh said. After inaugurating the Vijay Sankalp Yatra in Nandagarh in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district, Singh stated that Yediyurappa stepped down as chief minister due to health reasons. Basavaraj Bommai was made the CM as per the wishes of Yediyurappa.

"This is my last speech. You can also consider this as my farewell speech. I have already declared that I won't contest elections. I will not come back to the Assembly," an emotional Yediyurappa, also BJP Central Parliamentary Committee Member, reiterated. He was participating in the discussion on the budget and stated that in political circles, opposition parties are claiming that Yediyurappa is sidelined and neglected.

Speaking to reporters Yediyurappa stated that the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the high command will take a call on who is going to be the CM candidate. "Their decision is final. We do not have any objections if the high command decides to make any leader as the CM. The BJP is going to win 140 seats in the upcoming assembly elections and we will form the government," he said.