Bangalore:
Former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa was released from Bangalore's Central Prison this evening, 25 days after he was arrested for corruption. He was received by his family and ministers who remain his staunch supporters. Wearing his politician's heart on his sleeve, Mr Yeddyurappa said amid a blinding series of camera flashes, "I am grateful to the people of Karnataka." He the headed to a temple to offer his thanks.
After being arrested, the politician spent two days in two different hospitals at his insistence. He returned to prison after doctors declared he did not need medical supervision.
His plan to visit the Someshwara temple in Ulsoor before heading home was not surprising. The BJP leader is in the habit of visiting temples to mark important events in his career.
Mr Yeddyurappa was granted bail this morning. He was arrested for two different cases that involved him using his office as Chief Minister to make prime property available to his children and their spouses at phenomenal bargains. There are five different cases that accuse Mr Yeddyurappa of land scams.
His term as chief minister was littered with investigations, allegations and rumours of brazen and relentless graft. But it was only in July, when he was indicted in a report on illegal mining, that the BJP over-ruled his objections and ordered him to quit as the head of its first government in the South.
As part of an unofficial severance package, a furious Mr Yeddyurappa was given the prerogative of choosing who would replace him. He opted for Sadananda Gowda, known for his broad, infectious smile and the fact that he has never challenged Mr Yeddyurappa in a party infected with dissent.
Before he was arrested, bureaucrats sent him files on important matters before the new Chief Minister received them. Senior ministers visited him at his home, and then in prison. And many chose to skip a rally for BJP veteran LK Advani in Karnataka. Mr Yeddyurappra's supporters were outraged that Mr Advani had taken a strong stand against the former chief minister. On a tour to promote clean governance, Mr Advani stated that the BJP had to deal with corruption among its own if it wanted to convince the people that it has the right to take on the Congress over corruption.
Mr Advani later said he had no regrets about how the party handled its Karnataka crisis. "We never take any party weakness lightly and we proved the same in Karnataka. We had cautioned them in advance but when the Lokayukta report came out, he had to resign immediately. We are fully aware of the fact that no party can effectively win the confidence of the people against the present corruption of the Congress party if its own house is bedeviled with similar weaknesses."