Upbeat B S Yeddyurappa targets Siddaramaiah's den

Bengaluru: Now that he is all set to take over as state BJP chief, former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa got down to business on Sunday, calling a meeting of Bengaluru leaders and MLAs and giving them a serious pep talk on increasing the party’s presence in the old Mysuru region. He was keen that second rung leaders strengthen the party organisation in Mandya, Hassan, Ramanagara, Kolar and Chikkaballapura districts where it is looking for increasing its influence.

“ I know it is  difficult to win  seats in these districts, but we must make an effort and rally the party workers to achieve this,” he told the assembled BJP leaders, adding that as the five districts were close to Bengaluru , they could even make day trips to them. Recalling that despite the poor presence of the BJP in Kerala and Tamil Nadu,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president, Amit Shah had campaigned hard during elections there, Mr Yeddyurappa said their relentless efforts should inspire party workers in Karnataka to work equally hard to win over the old Mysuru region and defeat the Congress and JDS in these parts .

The Lingayat strongmen also advised party leaders to help the drought affected people by giving them drinking water and fodder for their cattle . “We should not merely tour these areas to agitate against the government, but to help the people,” he stressed. A BJP MLC claimed  he  came away from the meeting “inspired.”  “We will go on and work aggressively for the party.  It’s clear that Mr. Yeddyurappa will not let us sit idle.  It’s good to have an aggressive party president after so long. I am sure it will pay off,” he  added.