Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa seems to be sitting pretty in his bastion here, as he seeks a new political destiny and wants to play the twin role of a demolition man for the ruling BJP and a “king-maker” in the May five Assembly polls.
A political heavyweight that he is, the mission in 2013 for him is exactly the opposite to that he had in 2008. It was to bring BJP to power to make it the first-ever party government in the South then. Now, he is looking to turn the clock back and play the role of a terminator for the BJP.
Yeddyurappa’s confidence about his damaging capacity stems from the outcome of the recently held elections to urban local bodies, where his fledgling outfit Karnataka Janatha Paksha (KJP) played spoilsport for the BJP, resulting in the ruling party recording a poor performance.
The former BJP strongman has his roots in this constituency in Shimoga district, where he made a humble beginning in his life as a clerk in a rice mill to gradually rise to the coveted post of Chief Minister.
The battle in his familiar terrain does not pose much of a serious challenge to Yeddyurappa, who is pitted against his former close friend and confidant, Shanthaveerappa Gowda of Congress. BJP has fielded a lightweight S H Manjunath, once a Congress member.
