“There is no question of me going back to the BJP”, Yeddyurappa told mediapersons in Bangalore on Friday.
To a question if he would return to the BJP, now that Narendra Modi is in control, Yeddyurappa said, “I respect Narendra Modi a lot. However I have a separate identity of my own and would like to maintain that.”
“If the central leaders want to meet with me regarding me getting back to the BJP, then I will see at that time, but for now there is no question of going back. I understand that the BJP is looking to strengthen the party. But I have my own party, the Karnataka Janatha Party. I will work for my party,” the influential Lingayat leader clarified.
The Karnataka state BJP, which was drubbed in the recent assembly election, has been doing some soul-searching. Several leaders feel that the absence of Yeddyurappa led to their defeat and it was in the best interest of the party to get him back.