Posters show BSY with Modi ahead of Sunday rally

Two days before Narendra Modi hits town for a mega rally in Bangalore, many posters have sprung up featuring former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, together. 

Yeddyurappa is a Modi fan, but he is no more part of the BJP, having split a year ago with his party of 40 years, to float his own political outfit, the Karnataka Janata Party, made up largely of BJP rebels.

The posters have been put up by a KJP member, but Yeddyurappa says he knows nothing about them. 

Ever since Modi was named the BJP’s presumptive PM, there has been speculation that Yeddyurappa could merge his party with the BJP. Yeddyurappa has repeatedly ruled out a merger but has said his party will be happy to support a BJP led by Modi.  

BJP leaders in the state refuse comment saying any decision to re-induct Yeddyurappa into the party will be taken only by the party’s central leadership. 

Yeddyurappa is a powerful leader from the influential Lingayat community and is credited with having won the BJP its first and only government in south India when it had won the Karnataka assembly elections in 2008. 

The 70-year-old had to step down in the middle of his term because of corruption charges.