BS Yeddyurappa said the SUV was loaned to him for a drought tour of Karnataka.
Highlights
- Yeddyurappa says 'handling drought tour without car was not an issue'
- Car not new, he needs a comfortable car for tour, said his office earlier
- BJP had hit out at Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for wearing a luxury watch
BJP Karnataka chief BS Yeddyurappa says he has returned the Rs 1 Crore Land Cruiser, which created a buzz earlier this week, to its real owner Murugesh Nirani.
A press release issued by the former Chief Minister this afternoon said the car was loaned to him for a drought tour of the state and he decided against using it. He sent it back to Mr Nirani's house yesterday, it added.
Mr Yeddyurappa said the SUV was "given (by) my former Industries minister of Karnataka Sri Murugesh Nirani for proposed state tour to visit Drought affected areas" and for his "temporary usage to handle party related travel."
His office had earlier said the car Team Yeddyurappa says it is not a new car. He was appointed the chief of the party's Karnataka unit last week and would need a comfortable vehicle to travel thousands of kilometres across the state to consolidate the party which lost power to the Congress in the last assembly elections.
Not long ago, the BJP had made much noise about an expensive Hublot watch Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress was sporting on his wrist. The chief minister too had said the watch was a gift and not new. He ultimately deposited the watch with the state government.
Mr Yeddyurappa said his "political struggle" had gone on for over four decades in which he used various modes of public transport and cars to travel in the state. "Handling the proposed state tour in the same manner is not an issue at all for me. Hence, I have sent back the car provided by Sri Murugesh Nirani yesterday to his residence," he added.