In a surprising turn of events, BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa visited the residence of Congress leader and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday.
According to the two veteran leaders, the hour-long discussion between them was focused on tank development and water-related issues in Shikaripura, Yeddyurappa's constituency since it comes under Shivakumar's jurisdiction as Water Resources Minister.
Yeddyurappa was accompanied by his son and Shivamogga MP BY Raghavendra and MLA H Halappa. Senior officials from the Water Resources Department and Forests Minister R Shankar attended the meeting.
Yeddyurappa pressed for an early completion of the scheme to provide drinking water to villages in Shikaripura taluk affected by drought. Shivakumar told reporters following the meeting that he will visit Shivamogga soon to understand the ground situation. "We do not discriminate when it comes to development. When he was the chief minister, he helped by sanctioning developmental works. He did his bit. Now, Yeddyurappa came with some proposals. We discussed at length and in the interest of people, we will do it," he said as per Deccan Chronicle. He further added that he and Yeddyurappa had always remained friends.
Yeddyurappa too reiterated that the meeting was restricted to discussions on water-related projects in Shikaripura. “We had come to discuss irrigation projects in our home district of Shivamogga, Everything cannot be revealed to the media,” he told as per Deccan Herald.
The meeting raised eyebrows in the state since Shivakumar played a key part in securing the support needed for the JD(S)-Congress coalition government to be formed.
It also comes weeks after Shivakumar revealed he had a soft corner for Yeddyurappa even though he was opposed to the BJP ideology.