Bangalore : KJP president B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said he has no plans to return to the BJP and alleged that the BJP leaders have been spreading  rumours in this regard to create confusion among KJP workers.

“I have come a long way. The question of me returning to the BJP does not arise. I am now concentrating on strengthening the KJP for the coming Lok Sabha polls,” he told reporters at the Vidhana Soudha after taking oath as a member of the Legislative Assembly.

The former chief minister had recently stated that he would soon announce something that will surprise one and all in political circles, leading to speculation that he would either return to his parent party and merge the KJP with the BJP.

Asked whether he was planning to have pre-poll alliance with other parties for the Lok Sabha elections, he said he indeed has such a plan but it would take some time for things to firm up. “I have kept all options open.

However, I will not go with any alliance which involves the BJP,” he stated. Yeddyurappa said there is a proposal to change his party’s symbol (coconut), but no decision has been taken yet.

Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar said there have been no efforts from the BJP to bring Yeddyurappa back into the party.

“Nobody from the BJP has met him (Yeddyurappa) nor there is any such plan before the party,” he added. He also denied reports that the BJP was making efforts to persuade B Sriramulu to merge his BSR Congress with the BJP so that the BJP gets the principal opposition party status in the Assembly.

Shettar said the BJP will work as an effective Opposition party in the Assembly. -DH News