Bengaluru, Feb 27: Karnataka Chief Minister and veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa turned 78 on Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of leaders greeting him.
Modi hailed Yediyurappa as a "hardworking" chief minister and wished him long life and good health, while several state leaders flocked to his residence and greeted the Lingayat strongman.
"Birthday greetings to Karnataka's hardworking CM @BSYBJP Ji. He is passionately working for the state's progress, especially on farmer welfare and rural development. I pray for his long life and good health," the Prime Minister tweeted.
A large-scale "non-partisan" birthday bash will be held here later in the evening.
The felicitation function will see Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and former chief minister S M Krishna besides Siddaramaiah of Congress and H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) sharing the stage.
Union Ministers D V Sadananda Gowda, also a former chief minister, Pralhad Joshi and Suresh Angadi will be in attendance.
BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh and state party chief Nalin Kumar Kateel are among those who will be gracing the event.
While Santosh will release a felicitation volume in Kannada with 78 articles from a cross-section of people, including politicians, writers, bureaucrats, and spiritual leaders; Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy will unveil a coffee table book and documentary respectively.
Yediyurappa, on the eve of his birthday on Wednesday, had said whatever he has achieved is a result of the people's "blessings and faith" and requested well-wishers not to bring bouquets, flowers, shawls, sweets, turbans or any souvenirs to greet him.
The birthday function organised by "Yediyurappa Abhinandana Samiti" (Yediyurappa Felicitation Committee) is being seen in some quarters as an attempt by Yediyurappa and his loyalists to send a message to the party leadership that he was still "strong".
The BJP's current dispensation under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah has retired several senior party leaders who crossed the age of 75.
However, an exception was said to have been made in Yediyurappa's case after the BJP won 25 of 28 seats in the Lok Sabha election under his leadership.
In the 2018 elections, he spearheaded the campaign of the BJP which emerged as the single largest party but fell short of the majority mark following which Congress and JD(S) came to power stitching a post-poll pact.
However, the coalition collapsed in July last year, paving the way for return of Yediyurappa as Chief Minister for the fourth time.
Comments
Voting for SDPI is like voting for BJP.
So be smart and please vote for Congress so muslim votes are not wasted.
We had enough of BJP for the past 10 years. for a better future for Muslims vote for Congress.
A change a require in Mangalore. Mr. Ilyas is an far better candidate than others
Please don't withdraw the nomination, if you withdraw then definitely congress will lose for sure.
no more same annoying dialogue!
Abdul Gafoor Bhai, vote SDPI in APRIL for a real alternative ...
SDPI should take back thier nomination as there is a easy chance for BJP to sweep as congress and SDPI votes will divide.. SDPI should re think as they do not have enough supporters
good decision....all muslim must vote for SDPI...
in DK we have 6 lak hindu and 6 lak muslim face to face number...
rest 2 lak christ & 2 lak dalith also 1 lak unknow...
if muslim+dalit+christ unite...no one can break the chain forever...
all the best ilyas sir...
Why though! They will get around 1-2% which might be a deciding factor.
Probably, SDPI should really think about the future of the region, as well as the country, this time.
A Gatbhandan is really needed now!
Good for BJP
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