BS Yeddyurappa announces merger of his party with BJP

Bangalore: Ending months of speculation, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday announced that his party Karnataka Janatha Paksha will merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Yeddyurappa said that the formalities will be completed within 3-4 days. "We will fight Lok Sabha elections together," he said.

"It's in greater interest of having Narendra Modi as PM. I had spoken to him today also, all are happy with the recent developments. I have not put any conditions neither am I looking at any post, Yeddyurappa added.

He went on to say, "I don't want to comment about AAP being a threat to the BJP prospects and I have not yet decided whether to contest Lok Sabha elections. Regional parties are good for state interest and for national interest I took this step.

Yeddyurappa also asserted that they are aiming at at least 20 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka.

Reacting to the announcement by Yeddyurappa, BJP leader Ananth Kumar said, "We will get a boost in Lok sabha elections with Yeddyurappa merging with the party."

The talk about the homecoming of Yeddyurappa had gained more currency in recent weeks with state leaders making intensified efforts to bring him back and the former BJP strongman also giving enough indications about it.

This announcement comes after BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had pitched to bring Yeddyurappa back on camp.

Yeddyurappa had earlier said that he grew up in the RSS parivar and that he became the chief minister of Karnataka only because of the blessings and support of the party. He had even said that his return was "unconditional" and that the Congress had benefited as a result of the BJP and KJP contesting the May 8 assembly elections separately in the state.

Garnering 10 per cent vote share and six seats, Yeddyurappa had damaged the prospects of the then ruling BJP but failed to make an impact as an independent entity.

Yeddyurappa, a strongman from the majority Lingayat community, was made to quit as chief minister in July 2011 over findings of Lokayukta indicting him on illegal mining issue.

Sidelined by BJP central leadership subsequently, Yeddyurappa had formed KJP in December last year, ending his 40-year-long association with BJP.