In Shikaripura, CM Basavaraj Bommai likens BS Yediyurappa to Basavanna

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, on Friday, likened predecessor and mentor BS Yediyurappa to 12thcentury social reformer Basavanna, saying he too worked for the welfare of all communities.
Addressing the gathering after unveiling the statue of Kannada poet-saint Akka Mahadevi in Shikaripura, Bommai said: “Yediyurappa worked for the welfare of the people as described by Vachanakaras in their works.Nine centuries after the social revolution in Karnataka, Yediyurappa was born in the state to take up development work. When he governed the state, he led another social revolution in Karnataka, just as the 12th century poets did. ”
Yediyurappa represents Shikaripura in the legislative assembly and recently announced his retirement from electoral politics. He was earlier forced to step down as chief minister. However, BJP,including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has put him front and centre of the party’s election campaign.
“For me, Yediyurappa is like a father figure. I became chief minister because of his support,” Bommai said.