Mega event to celebrate Yediyurappa’s 50-year political journey in Karnataka, Amit Shah to attend

A mega event will be held here on Saturday to celebrate veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappas five-decade-long political journey, and it is expected to be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

A mega event will be held here on Saturday to celebrate veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa's five-decade-long political journey, and it is expected to be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah will felicitate the 83-year-old former Chief Minister at the event titled ''BSY Abhimanotsava,'' which is expected to draw about ten lakh people. Large-scale arrangements have been made for the event, according to party leaders. A host of party leaders, Union Ministers, and legislators are expected to take part in the event, which will also be attended by pontiffs and swamijis of various prominent maths from across the state, they said. Two books related to Yediyurappa's life and struggles will also be released. ''Fifty successful years of B S Yediyurappa in public service. Let us come together to express our love, respect, and admiration for the tireless, visionary leader of the people and farmers, the benevolent Yediyurappa,'' state BJP President B Y Vijayendra posted on 'X'. ''In the divine presence of the state's senior saints and swamijis, the event will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with the participation of Union Ministers, and all leaders and stalwarts of the state,'' he added. On Friday, an event was organised where Yediyurappa was welcomed into Chitradurga city with a procession. A party leader said that numerous cultural teams, along with women and farmers from various parts of the state, took part in it. Speaking to reporters in Davanagere, Yediyurappa said, ''A large number of people are expected to gather tomorrow. Today too, there is a programme. People are organising this event with a lot of affection and love; I thank all those working for this event.'' Recalling that he, along with the late Ananthkumar and a few other senior leaders, used to travel by bicycle to organise the party in its initial days, he said, ''This led to the BJP coming to power in the state. Now, again, the time is approaching for change. Efforts will be made to further strengthen the party in the days ahead.'' When asked whether the event would signal the beginning of efforts to bring the BJP back to power in Karnataka, he said, ''Let's wait and see.'' Mega stages, seating arrangements, and food and drinking water facilities have been made for the event, party officials said. Necessary security arrangements have been made with the help of the police and administration for the smooth conduct of the event and to ensure that nothing untoward happens. Yediyurappa served as the CM of Karnataka four times: for seven days during his first term in November 2007; for three years and two months starting in May 2008; for three days in May 2018 following the Assembly polls; and finally for exactly two years starting July 26, 2019, during his fourth tenure. He joined the RSS when he was barely 15 and cut his political teeth in the Jana Sangh, the BJP's forerunner, in his hometown of Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. He became the Jana Sangh's Shikaripura taluk chief in the early 1970s. Yediyurappa, who began his electoral politics as Purasabha president in Shikaripura, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly from Shikaripura in 1983 and went on to win from there eight times. Widely credited for the BJP's growth in Karnataka, he has served as the party's state unit president, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, a member of the Legislative Council, and a Member of Parliament.