Yeddyurappa highlights promise of reinstatement as Karnataka CM (update)

Tumkur, Feb 27 (ANI): Karnataka strongman B.S. Yeddyurappa on Monday said that he has been promised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari that he will be reinstated as chief minister of the state at an appropriate time.

Speaking to media at the celebrations of his 69th birthday here, Yeddyurappa said Gadkari had assured him of a return to power.

"The truth is that Nitin Gadkari promised me that as of now Sadananda Gowda will be the chief minister and at an appropriate time I will be reinstated. This was the assurance I was given. However, there has been a lot of talk on the subject. As far as I am concerned, I am not going to press any demands, I will continue to work as a common party worker," he said.

Yeddyurappa went on to assert that he only wished to complete his tenure as chief minister and would continue to work for the betterment of his state as long as he had the support of his people.

"As long as the goodwill of people is with me, you cannot disturb me, you cannot shake me. As long as the blessings of the people are with Yeddyurappa, you cannot shake him," he added.

Yeddyurappa had earlier in the day remained defiant to regain his former position, and said that he had ensured the state treads on the path of development.

"The amount of work I have done for the people as the chief minister, no one has done it. Not just me, others say it. I, along with my supporters have done everything to put Karnataka on the path of development," he said.

Yeddyurappa asserted that he only wished to complete his tenure as the chief minister of the state, adding that he was not behind any political imbroglio.

Yeddyurappa said that the people of the state want him as the leader, though his detractors are using every possible tactic to malign his image even further.

" My detractors want that I should disappear from people's vision. It is their conspiracy, but people are smart enough to know their devious plans," he added.

Last year, former Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde had indicted Yeddyurappa and several other key officials in a mining graft case that cost the state exchequer losses worth 160 billion rupees between 2006 and 2010.

Yeddyurappa, who was forced to resign from his post by the BJP, is making efforts to make a comeback.

According to reports, Yeddyurappa has served an ultimatum to the BJP central leadership and set February 27 as a deadline to reinstate him as chief minister, failing which he would decide on his next course of action. (ANI)