Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, who once had quit the BJP on blaze of allegations and returned before the General election in the party has appointed as his state chief of party, while Keshav Prasad Maurya is the new party chief in UP.
Less than four years ago, Mr Yeddyurappa had parted bitterly with his party of four decades after he had to step down as chief minister amid allegations of massive corruption. He had returned to the BJP in early 2014, along with his many supporters, just before the national elections.
By appointing Mr. Yeddyurappa, a prominent Lingayat face, the party decided to bank on its old warhorse in Karnataka. He was earlier forced to resign as chief minister over graft allegations and quit the party to form his own outfit.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, who is Lok Sabha member from Shimoga, returned to BJP ahead of 2014 general election.
Yeddyurappa became the frontrunner to take up the post of the party’s Karnataka unit after the Supreme Court last year declined to intervene and revoke a Karnataka high court order putting on hold his prosecution in cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In Uttar Pradesh, the party decided to field an OBC face as the party gears up for the crucial polls next year. Mr. Maurya has been associated with RSS since early years.
Announcing the appointments, BJP general secretary Arun Singh also named Union Minister Vijay Sampla, MLA K Laxman and former MP Tapir Gao as the new party chiefs for Punjab, Telangana and Arunachal Pradesh units.
