Former Karnataka CM and BJP’s stalwart leader BS Yediyurappa on In what probably is his “farewell speech” in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly of which he was a member for decades, state BJP strongman said till the last breath of his life he will honestly strive towards building the party and bring it to power.
The 79-year old veteran leader, who has already announced his retirement from electoral politics, said there is no question of him sitting at home, and after the assembly session he will tour the state and campaign for the party and its candidates.

Intervening during the discussion on state budget, the four times Chief Minister repeatedly urged the ruling party legislators to go before the people with confidence and seek votes and said it is certain that the BJP will come back to power with a clear majority.

“If god gives me strength in the next election too, which is five years after this election, I will make all efforts for the BJP to come to power. As you are already aware I have said that I will not be contesting polls, but the respect shown to me and positions given to me by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party cannot be forgotten during my lifetime,” he said.

“Till the last breath of my life I will honestly strive for building BJP and to bring it to power, let there be no doubts about it….I want to tell all our (BJP) MLAs on this side (treasury benches) to work with confidence and prepare for election, many from that side (opposition) are ready to come with us, if you are confident, we can take them along and bring back BJP to power with a clear majority, ” he said.

Noting that he was speaking for the last time in the Assembly, with the session set to conclude on Friday, Yediyurappa said, “This in a way is my farewell, as I cannot come to the assembly and speak after this.”

Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy however intervened and said, Yediyurappa will be making his last address in the House on Friday.

Yediyurappa in July last year announced that he will not be contesting the assembly polls, and will be vacating his Shikaripura Assembly seat, from where his younger son and the party’s state Vice-President B Y Vijayendra will be contesting, if the high command agrees.

The veteran leader, who began his electoral politics as ‘Purasabha’ president in Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, was first elected to the Assembly from Shikaripura in 1983 and went on to win eight times from there.

“I have heard certain speeches criticising the BJP for doing injustice to Yediyurappa and neglecting me. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have never neglected me, and considering the position and respect that they gave me, I’m indebted to Modi, and I can never forget the opportunities and positions given to me.”