Hubli:
As a late celebration of his birthday, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa held a rally in Hubli in the northern part of the state today. The event saw a massive turnout - close to 40,000 people came to hear their former CM. It was, however, widely seen as a show of strength by a man keen on becoming chief minister again, now that the High Court has quashed an FIR filed against him on the issue of illegal mining.
Mr Yeddyurappa's supporters argue that he should be reinstated as the illegal mining charge was the main reason he was asked to quit. Mr Yeddyurappa though claimed he had no such aims.
"People say this rally is a show of strength. Why? To show whom? It is because I am stepping into my 70th year that my friends are doing this... I have not come here to beg for the chief minister's position. This programme was not held for me to secure any position," he said.
Mr Yeddyurappa also dismissed rumours that he would leave the BJP. "They said I would leave the party, form a new party...that will never happen," he said.
There was, however, a sting. Mr Yeddyurappa made it clear he would not campaign for the by-election to the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat left vacant by his hand-picked successor Sadananda Gowda. This, after Mr Gowda and state party president KS Eshwarappa had reminded people about the remaining corruption charges against Mr Yeddyurappa.
"It should not be awkward for Sadananda Gowda who was MP then and is chief minister now. It should not be that Yeddyurappa causes problems by going there when there are still charges against him. I pray that our party candidate wins. As I have allegations against me....I had thought of campaigning there for some days, but I am not going now. Our state party president or chief minister should not be troubled," said Mr Yeddyurappa.
There was a message out of this rally - that the BJP should not ignore Mr Yeddyurappa. But will his well-known impatience be his undoing, as he waits for his party high-command to decide his political future within the party he helped to build in Karnataka.