Bangarappa joins BJP, finally

The former chief minister called on Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani before announcing his decision. The Prime Minister, according to Naidu, had ‘‘blessed’’ Bangarappa. Karnataka BJP president Ananth Kumar and other senior leaders were also present for Bangarappa’s induction in the party.

Naidu said: ‘‘Bangarappa, with his understanding and knowledge, will contribute to Karnataka’s development.’’ His entry will enable the BJP to improve its tally in LS polls too.

In keeping with the change-over, Bangarappa attacked Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s leadership. He said: ‘‘What we saw during the times of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi is not there now. My thinking is that under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership, the Congress has completely failed and has not delivered what the people expected.’’

The former chief minister showered praises on the BJP and hailed ‘‘the able leadership of Vajpayee’’. This prompted a journalist to ask him why it took him six years to notice the ‘‘able leadership of Vajpayee’’ now, in the run-up to the polls. Bangarappa said, ‘‘This is a crucial time and it requires strength from all the quarters.’’

When asked if Bangarappa will be the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, Naidu said: ‘‘There is still time to decide who will be chief minister of Karnataka. We will do so at an appropriate time. If we project anyone, we will announce his name. Otherwise, we would have a common leadership.’’

A journalist reminded Naidu that the BJP had once described Bangarappa as the ‘‘most corrupt chief minister’’. To this, Naidu responded by saying: ‘‘The court has acquitted him. You have forgotten that.’’