Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that he is absolutely certain that most of the voters will vote in favour of the BJP. He clarified that around 75 to 80 percent will support them. The BJP will win 130-135 seats, he said. The BJP will get 'absolute majority' and will return to power in the state, he added. The Lingayat leader also observed that the popular response is in favour of the saffron party.
Yediyurappa was one of the early voters to cast his vote on Wednesday. The former Chief Minister also requested all Kannadigas to exercise their franchise as early as possible. After retiring from active politics, the BJP has fielded his son B Y Raghavendra to contest from Shikaripura constituency.
On being asked whether the formidable Lingayat leader's absence from the electoral fray will impact the BJP, Raghavendra said that his father took the decision not to contest on his own. He was not forced by the party or any person, he said.
Also read: Karnataka Assembly election 2023: Voting begins at 7 am
Yediyurappa has been actively campaigning across the state for the last one month along with other BJP heavyweights including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP party workers have accepted his decision in a positive light, he added.
The stalwart Lingayat leader's relationship with the BJP high command has not been a smooth ride. He was earlier replaced from the chief ministerial position by the 'high command' and Chief Minister Bommai replaced him. His nonparticipation in the elections this time is seen by many political analysts to cast a dent in the BJP's Lingayat votebank, especially after another former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who is also a top Lingayat leader, switched sides to the Congress.
