Chikkodi: Newly appointed as BJP Vice President by party chief Amit Shah, former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday said he is satisfied with the position given, though it was people`s wish that he be made a minister.
"People`s wish was that I should be made a minister but my wish was that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah give me party responsibility," Yeddyurappa told reporters at Chikkodi in Belgaum district.
"They have given me party responsibility, I`m satisfied with it. As former Chief Minister and National Vice President, I will happily work towards strengthening the party," he said.
Thanking Shah and Modi for making him party`s National Vice President, Yeddyurappa said, "Ananth Kumar (Union Minister from Karnataka) and several other party leaders have made efforts to get me a prominent position. It is because of their efforts I have got this position.I thank all of them."
Yeddyurappa had returned to BJP and merged his Karnataka Janata Party in January, a year after he walked out of the party at the height of his differences with it over the leadership issue after he was removed as Chief Minister over a graft charge.
The Lingayat strongman had, however, failed to make a big electoral impact with his outfit in the 2013 Assembly polls that saw Congress` return to power after bringing down the first ever BJP government in the South, for which he was credited.
Stating that he will work for victory of BJP`s candidates in three constituencies in the August 21 Assembly by-polls in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said "We leaders will work together and bring failures of this government (Siddaramaiah`s) before people and create awareness about it."
By-elections are to be held for the three seats after sitting MLAs B S Yeddyurappa (Shikaripura), Prakash Hukkeri (Chikkodi-Sadalga) and B Sriramulu (Bellary) vacated them, consequent to their election to Lok Sabha.
In this by-elections, straight contest is likely to be between BJP and ruling Congress as Janata Dal Secular has decided against fielding candidates citing funds crunch.
