Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa rules out joining BJP

BANGALORE: With a section of BJP making moves to bring former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa back to the party fold, the Lingayat leader today ruled out his home coming for now.

Asked if BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had approached him with a proposal for his return to the party, Yeddyurappa told reporters "I will discuss (the issue) at that time. Nobody has approached me so far and hence there is no question of joining BJP or any other party for now," he said.

Yeddyurappa said there is no truth either in reports suggesting that with Modi's elevation as BJP's election committee head he was in an advantageous position to get back into the party.

"These are rumours. I want for to maintain a separate identity of my party (Karnataka Janata Paksha) and I am going on a statewide tour to strengthen it," he said.

On his praise for Modi after his elevation, Yeddyurappa said he had great respect for the Gujarat Chief Minister but that doesn't mean that KJP would merge with BJP. "I have left BJP because of my bad experience there," he said.

Asked whether his party would back Modi in 2014 Lok Sabha elections if BJP projects him as Prime Ministerial candidate, Yeddyurappa said he would discuss the issue at that time. "I have to consult my party leaders before taking any decision," he said.