Bangalore: With Karnataka BJP strongman BS Yeddyurappa remaining defiant after being rebuffed by BJP chief Nitin Gadkari in his bid to regain chief ministership, all eyes are on the former chief minister's birthday bash on Monday as he is expected to take a "drastic" decision whether to continue in the party or not.
Yeddyurappa turns 69 on Monday and has extended invitation to all his supporting legislators to attend a lunch hosted by him at his residence. He also has hosted a dinner party to mediapersons where he is expected to divulge his next political step.
Yeddyurappa will be visiting Siddaganga Mutt pontiff Shivakumar Swamy in Tumkur in the morning and offer worship at a nearby temple.
After attending a function orgainsed by Backward Class Forum near Railway Station, Yeddyurappa would head to his residence to hold a meeting with his supporters including legislators and MPs, sources close to him said.
Some BJP leaders are expecting Yeddyurappa to bid adieu to the BJP which he had built in the state over the years. Yet another section expects Yeddyurappa to wait for the outcome of March 3 core Committee meeting convened by BJP President Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi. The former Chief Minister has already said he and his followers would not attend the meeting.
Instead of attending the Delhi meeting, Yeddyurappa had said he would discuss the issues (apparently referring to making him Chief Minister or giving a position in the state BJP unit) with his supporters on February 27 and thereafter convey the decision to the central leadership.
BJP sources said that Yeddyurappa has to await acquittal in various cases against him before he can be considered for chief ministership or state party presidentship.
Yeddyurappa has set a February 27 deadline for Gadkari to consider his and his supporters demand to reinstate him as chief minister or give him a top position in state party unit.
However, Gadkari has categorically ruled out any change in the leadership of Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda.
Yeddyurappa, who belongs to the Lingayat community, is reportedly unhappy with Gowda and state BJP chief KS Eshwarappa for allegedly not inviting him for Lingayat conventions held recently. He alleged, without naming anyone, that some party leaders were out to divide the Lingayat community.
Yeddyurappa held a show of strength with more than 50 MLAs attending a meeting called by him earlier this week.
He also was able to win over Rural Development Minister Jagadish Shettar and Home Minister R Ashoka who were in the rival camp when he backed Gowda to succeed him after being forced to quit as Chief Minister in August last over his indictment in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.
In an apparent move to save any possible embarrassment, the party had on February 24 curtailed its two-day session to less than a day but maintained that it was done to devote more time to the March 18 Udupi-Chikamagalur Lok Sabha by-poll.
However, sources close to Yeddyurappa said the party's 'Chinthan Manthan' was cancelled as his supporters were threatening to boycott the second day of the event.
(With additional inputs from PTI)
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