Exclusive: Quitting Electoral Politics My Decision, Says BS Yediyurappa

Bengaluru:

The BJP’s Karnataka stalwart BS Yediyurappa has said he won’t go back on his decision to quit electoral politics ahead of the closely watched state elections later this year, adding that the move was entirely his call and he was not forced.

“I told people of Karnataka, I’m not retiring from politics. I am not tired, I will campaign and bring BJP to power. I will tour the state. BJP will get an absolute majority… Quitting electoral politics was my decision, nobody forced me. I will convince people why I took this decision,” he said in an exclusive interview with NDTV.

“I resigned from the Chief Minister’s post to accommodate [Basavaraj] Bommai. My absence in electoral politics is a challenge, and the BJP must face these challenges. I won’t go back on my decision of not contesting polls,” the Lingayat strongman said.