Bengaluru, 23 April 

An event celebrating veteran BJP leader BS Yediyurappa’s five decades in politics will be held in Chitradurga on 9 May, during which Union Home Minister Amit Shah will felicitate the former Karnataka CM.

Sharing details of the event at a joint press conference, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra and Chitradurga MP Govind Karjol said lakhs of people are expected to attend.

“Yediyurappa has been active in public life for 50 years. He has fought for farmers, worked for the welfare of the downtrodden, and championed social justice. We have decided to celebrate his life and service as ‘Yediyurappa Abhimanotsava’,” said Karjol, who is also a former Deputy Chief Minister.

He said the celebration would be held in Chitradurga on 9 May. The Union Home Minister will inaugurate the programme and felicitate Yediyurappa.

An event will also be organised on May 8 at 6 pm to welcome Yediyurappa to Chitradurga city, he said.

More than 10 lakh people are expected to participate in the ‘Yediyurappa Abhimanotsava’, and teams have been formed to organise the programme systematically.

Karjol said pontiffs of various maths in the state, former chief ministers, ministers, and other dignitaries are being invited.

He added that people from all sections of society, including writers, social activists, and artists who have known Yediyurappa, would participate. Members of the general public and the farming community will also attend.

“Chitradurga is centrally located in Karnataka, which is why it was chosen,” he said.

Vijayendra said preparations are underway to mark Yediyurappa’s 50-year political journey, and that people from all sections of society appreciate his contribution to the state. A meaningful and grand programme is being organised to commemorate his service.

Yediyurappa’s followers and admirers are expected to arrive from across the state. “Lakhs of people will attend the programme. It is expected to be a historic event,” he said.

He added that the programme is being organised under the leadership of senior party leaders, including Prabhakar Kore, Govind Karjol, and B Sriramulu, among others.

The programme’s logo was released on Thursday.

Karjol said bhumi puja (ground-breaking ceremony) will be performed at the venue of the ‘Yediyurappa Abhimanotsava’ on April 26 at 10 am, marking the beginning of preparations for the main event.

Leaders such as Vijayendra, Opposition leaders in the Assembly and Council, R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, along with MPs, former MPs, MLAs, former MLAs, Legislative Council members, and other dignitaries, will participate in the event.