Sadananda Gowda says proposed state-wide tour will help BJP

With BS Yeddyurappa set to walk out of jail, Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda today welcomed the High Court decision to grant him bail and said the proposed state-wide tour by his predecessor would "strengthen" the BJP in the southern state.

As the Karnataka High Court granted conditional bail in a land scam case, Gowda, currently camping here, said he would meet Yeddyurappa in a couple of days.

"I am happy about it. I will meet Yeddyurappa, who is our front ranking leader, in a couple of days and discuss with him the political situation," Gowda, a known Yeddyurappa loyalist, told reporters here.

When asked whether the proposed state-wide tour by Yeddyurappa will create ripples in the party unit, the chief minister said: "Certainly, touring all over Karnataka will strengthen my party and my cadres also want to see that time and again there are certain confusions that has to be cleared."

"I hope that while touring the state, Yeddyurappa will make it clear how he has been simply dragged into the present situation. So my party workers will again be motivated and our party will be strengthened in the coming days," he said.

On the nomination for a new Lokayukta in the state, Gowda said he does not know whether Governor HR Bhardwaj has rejected or accepted the name.

"He had sought some clarification and I had clarified my stand with the governor. Only after receiving reply from the governor, I can comment," he said.