BS Yeddyurappa has said that he will not back down from his decision to quit electoral politics.

Karnataka BJP veteran BS Yeddyurappa has said that he will not go back on his decision to quit electoral politics ahead of the state elections later this year.

He said that the decision to take this step was completely his own and he was not forced.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, he said, "I told the people of Karnataka, I am not retiring from politics. I am not tired, I will campaign and bring BJP to power. I will tour the state. BJP will be completely Will get majority... Quitting electoral politics was my decision, no one forced me. I will explain to people why I took this decision." 

The influential leader of the Lingayat community said, "I resigned as chief minister to make way for (Basavaraj) Bommai. My absence in electoral politics is a challenge and the BJP must face these challenges. I am not going to contest elections." I will not back down from my decision." 

He also criticized BJP state president Nalin Kateel's idea of ​​looking at 18th-century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan and Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar as a strategy to polarize voters.

He said, "I do not agree with the story of Tipu vs Savarkar. It is not Tipu vs Savarkar, but the story of BJP's policies and plans."

The 79-year-old BJP leader also attacked the Congress.

He said, "DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah of Congress are corrupt leaders. Their allegations of corruption against BJP are baseless."

His statement earlier this week in the Karnataka Assembly, of which he had been a member for decades, was seen as his "farewell speech".

Yeddyurappa had said that he would strive towards building the party and bring it to power "till his last breath".

Yediyurappa, the leader who assumed power in the only southern state ruled by the BJP, had announced in July last year that he would not contest the assembly elections and would vacate his Shikaripura assembly seat.

If the party leadership agrees, then his younger son and party's state vice-president BY Vijayendra will contest from there.

Yediyurappa, a veteran leader who started his electoral politics as 'Purasabha' president in Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, was first elected to the assembly from Shikaripura in 1983.

He won eight times from there.

Yeddyurappa had resigned as Chief Minister on July 26, 2021, paving the way for Bommai to take over.

The primary reason behind his removal from the post of CM was considered to be his old age.

In BJP, the rule of not allowing people above 75 years to contest elections is applicable.

It was also seen by top BJP leaders as a move to make way for a new leadership ahead of the assembly elections.

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