Yeddyurappa likely to launch his new party from Haveri

HUBLI: Will former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa choose Haveri to launch his much speculated new political party in December? The question is lingering even as speculations are rife, while the Lingayat-dominant district has a special place in his career map.
The infamous Haveri firing incident happened on the first day of the assembly session, on June 10 2008, after Yeddyurappa took over as the CM.Two farmers were killed, when police fired at the agitating ryots demanding fertilizer.
As the incident rattled his fledgling government, Yeddyrappa, embarking on a damage control exercise announced an ambitious farmers' welfare scheme 'Bhuchetana' and his special focus was on Haveri. And from there on, he made a practice of announcing major decisions of his government about farmers in Haveri. For instance, before presenting his first ever agriculture budget, he made the announcement on it in Haveri.
He woed farmers of Haveri with numerous schemes. Giving a facelift to the Kaginele Development Authority, setting up of the Folk University, proposals of setting up of the Spice Park, Ambigar Choudaiah Peetha and Agriculture College are among other welfare schemes gifted to the district. Yeddyurappa was also instrumental in attracting industry bigwig Tata to set up Tata Metallic to invest in the district. His government sanctioned a cotton processing unit, Maize processing unit, in a bid to boost industrial growth in Haveri.
Topping all the factors, Haveri is considered to be one of his bastions with his staunch supporters including ministers C M Udasi and Basavaraj Bommai elected to the Assembly from the district. Of the six MLAs of the district, five are from BJP and identified as his camp members. Out of 31 ZP seats, 27 seats were won by the Yeddyurappa camp while all TPs and GPs are dominated by the supporters of Bommai and Udasi.