BS Yeddyurappa, Who Once Quit BJP In Blaze of Allegations, Back In Charge

The return of BS Yeddyurappa is complete. The former Chief Minister and party strongman has been named chief of the Karnataka BJP in a reshuffle of top party posts in many states.

Less than four years ago, Mr Yeddyurappa had parted bitterly with his party of four decades after he had to step down as chief minister amid allegations of massive corruption. He had returned to the BJP in early 2014, along with his many supporters, just before the national elections.

In the months between, Mr Yeddyurappa, in a deep sulk, attempted what turned out to be a misadventure by floating his own party to contest the 2013 assembly elections. The Congress wrested the state from the BJP.

The BJP, which struggled after the exit of its tallest leader in Karnataka, had come in a poor third in that election, with Mr Yeddyurappa’s Karnataka Janata Party playing spoiler. Mr Yeddyurappa’s new party was a non-starter.

BS Yeddyurappa, who was the BJP’s first and as yet only chief minister in South India, became the frontrunner for a return as party chief in Karnataka after the Supreme Court refused last year to intervene and revoke a Karnataka High Court order putting on hold his prosecution in a corruption case.

The 73-year-old leader draws his core support from his powerful Lingayat community and is credited with a strong contribution to building the BJP in the state.

He represents Shimoga in the Lok Sabha.