(Inputs from DHNS)

Bangalore: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership is set to accelerate return of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to the party fold once the Assembly election results are out.

The BJP state unit has conveyed to party national president Rajnath Singh and other top brass that it was not reluctant to the re-induction of Yeddyurappa into the party, to boost its prospects in the 2014 general election. 

The central leadership had indicated that it would take up the matter after the completion of Assembly elections in four states and in Delhi.

According to party sources, Singh is likely to invite Yeddyurappa to New Delhi for discussion anytime after the completion of the counting of votes in the five Assemblies (December 8). The BJP, which hopes to win in at least three states, wants to use its “winning streak” as a bargaining chip in the negotiations with Yeddyurappa. 

BJP central leaders, however, have made it clear that they are open only to a merger of the two parties the Karnataka Janata Party, or the KJP has six members in the Assembly and not a poll alliance.

However, there is opposition in the KJP to the merger move likely only time will tell whether this merger will be fruitful.