BJP drafts five principles to make BSY happy

BANGALORE: The ruling BJP has switched into election mode. In two meetings - core committee and ministers - held on Monday, the party evolved strategies to retain former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and finalize dates for tours and programmes. The Lokayukta controversy was discussed too.

This was the second effort by the party to keep Yeddyurappa in good humour. In the first round, party leaders and RSS succeeded in convincing Yeddyurappa that no post would be given to him unless he came clean in all cases. Following directions from BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, the party in its core committee meeting involving state BJP president KS Eshwarappa, CM DV Sadananda Gowda, Yeddyurappa, rural development and panchayat raj minister Jagadish Shettar, national general secretary HN Ananth Kumar, organizing secretary Santosh, joint organizing secretary V Sateesh on Monday decided to not to antagonize the former CM. The party would not give him any post.

Sources in the BJP said party bosses have given five mantras to keep him happy. Maintain unity in the party, don't provoke Yeddyurappa into giving statements; Yeddyurappa and followers should not issue statements damaging the party; Yeddyurappa should be consulted in important decisions and legislators and MPs of that particular district should accompany Yeddyurappa in his tour of the state. ''We have started preparing for the elections,'' K S Eshwarappa said.