Will Yeddyurappa return to BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in charge for Karnataka affairs, Thawar Chand Gehlot said here today that former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has not yet sent any proposal to return to the BJP.

"Our take on taking him back into the party is that he has sent in no request to us yet. He had left the party on his own accord. Now, if he wants to join back then he must send a proposal to the party. After that the state core group would decide on it. But the ultimate decision in this regard would be taken by the national authority, the parliamentary board. If his proposal comes in then we shall decide on it," he said.

Gehlot, however, admitted that some BJP leaders are in favour of Yeddyurappa's return.

"It is true that some people are in the favour of his return, while some others are against it. The result can come out only if he sends in a proposal. If he sends in a proposal then only we shall decide on it," he said

Yeddyurappa earlier on Friday ruled out his return to the BJP, and said that he wanted to maintain his separate identity and build his party, the Karnataka Janatha Party (KJP).

"No, that question does not arise, I want to retain my separate identity, the Karnataka Janatha Party (KJP), and I am going to start building my party. I am not interested in that. It's up to them to discuss whatever they want to, but I am not concerned about all this," he said.

Yeddyurappa, however, said that he backed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's elevation as the chief of BJP's poll campaign committee.

"One thing is very clear, I have got great respect for Narendra Modi. He is a very good leader, and the Bharatiya Janata Party has projected him as their future leader; for that I have no objection. And the people of the country are liking that," he said.