With reports rife about former BJP minister Hartalu Halappa’s plans of hopping over to Congress, BJP Karnataka state president B S Yeddyurappa held mediation with Halappa, who is angry at the fact that the party is not in favour of issuing him ticket for the Assembly election this time.
During the conciliation talks between the two, Yeddyurappa felt that he had succeeded in convincing Halappa not to desert the party. However, Halappa himself remained tight-lipped about the outcome of the effort.
The meeting between the two leaders was brokered by BJP MP, Shobha Karandlaje.
It is said that Yeddyurappa explained to Halappa, who has been demanding party ticket from Sagar constituency, about the current conditions in this constituency, and vote calculations. He also told Halappa that as per the internal survey conducted by the party, Halappa does not have a bright chance of winning. Yeddyurappa also requested Halappa to work for the party in spite of who is fielded by the party, and assured him of a bright future in the party.
Halappa was reminded that the party had stood by him firmly during the critical period of his life and that if he crosses over to some other party now, voters will form a wrong opinion about him. Yeddyurappa told him that politically also this move might backfire. Halappa however, remained non-committal and returned after saying that he would work for the party. Based on this reaction, BJP camp feels that there are bright chances of him remaining with the party.
Halappa said that he was happy with the discussion he had with Yeddyurappa, and that he will give his reaction after Yeddyurappa speaks about it. He also refused to speak anything about the ticket for the Assembly election.
