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BS Yeddyurappa, Santosh finalised state BJP team?

The former CM dropped a few die-hard loyalists of Santhosh to accommodate his supporters.

Bengaluru: Has former Chief Minister and BJP State President B.S. Yeddyurappa struck a deal with outgoing BJP organizing secretary, Santhosh, before finalizing the state office bearers list?

Sources close to former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar confirmed this and claimed that Mr Santhosh and Mr Yeddyurappa had jointly prepared the list. Due to a compromise formula arrived at between the two leaders, their loyalists have got places in the office bearers list, said sources.

The former CM dropped a few die-hard loyalists of Santhosh to accommodate his supporters while the latter managed to ensure that his supporters continue as party general secretary and vice presidents.

Unlike in the past, Mr Yeddyurappa has given posts to SC, ST, women and minority leaders, sources said. According to them, Mr Santhosh has roped in Mr Arunkumar, a low profile RSS Pracharak from Hubballi as party organizing secretary and also requested the party president to appoint leaders who have strong organizing skills to important posts.

Mr Santhosh continues to retain a strong grip on the party organization as national joint secretary in charge of five southern states including Karnataka.
Meanwhile, sources said Mr Yeddyurappa has changed his style of functioning and is accepting suggestions by senior leaders and RSS.

In fact, Mr Yeddyurappa was not interested in choosing former minister V. Somanna as party candidate for the Council and had floated the name of Sadashiva, RSS Pracharak and President of Bharathiya Mazdoor Sangh(BMS). He even consulted RSS top leaders in Bengaluru on this, sources added.

BSY to CM: Let’s debate your contributions to Dalit welfare
The BJP’s newly appointed state president, B.S. Yeddyurappa on Sunday gave a call to his partymen to launch a door-to-door campaign against the Congress party’s hypocritical approach towards Dalit icon, Dr B.R. Ambedkar and its shabby treatment of Upa-Lokayukta Justice Subhash B. Adi.

Speaking at the Vikas-Parva rally in Davangere here, Mr Yeddyurappa said, “I have identified four prominent issues to counter the ruling Congress in the state. First we need to talk more about Dalit icons like Dr Ambedkar and instill confidence among these downtrodden sections. Second, we need to highlight Justice Adi’s case to show how shabbily the Congress party has been treating people like him. Third, is the growing number of farmer suicides and the fourth is the need to fight to implement the Wakf committee report recommendations on encroachment of properties.”

Continuing his tirade against Chief Minister, Mr Siddaramaiah, Mr Yeddyurappa dared the former to a public debate on what he had done for the AHINDA community of Dalits, backward communities and minorities. “Mr Siddaramaiah always claims he is the champion of these communities. If so, let him accept this challenge,” he said.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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