Yeddyurappa leaves hospital for jail, gets air-conditioned cell

Bangalore: After three days spent in two hospitals, former Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa has returned to Bangalore's Central Jail where he has an air-conditioned cell with an attached bathroom.

Mr Yeddyurappa was discharged from Victoria Hospital this morning. He was seen leaving the hospital on a stretcher. His supporters, including Karnataka minister V Somanna, said Mr Yeddyurappa wanted to return to jail as he was "frustrated" with media reports that accused him of feigning illness as a way to avoid prison.

A local court will hear his request for interim bail tomorrow.

Mr Yeddyurappa was arrested on Saturday for his office while he was Chief Minister to help his two sons get prized public land at throwaway prices. He surrendered after a Lokayukta court denied him bail, and issued a warrant for his arrest. But within hours of being imprisoned, the 68-year-old complained of chest pains and breathlessness. He was moved to the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology. Yesterday, doctors there said that his medical condition did not merit keeping him in hospital. Mr Yeddyurappa then checked into Victoria Hospital.

Senior ministers of the Karnataka Cabinet and Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda have visited him in hospital - an indication of the clout he still has in his home state.

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But  the central leadership of his party has been swerving away from him. Senior BJP leader LK Advani, who is on a rath yatra against corruption, said yesterday, "We are fully aware that no party can win the confidence of the people against the present corruption of the Congress party if its own house is bedeviled with similar weaknesses."

Senior BJP leader Dhananjaya Kumar who has charge of Karnataka affairs, today sought to tone down the Advani effect. He said Mr Advani's words would have to be considered, but that was not why Mr Yeddyurappa had opted to go back to jail. He had done so after doctors attending on him pronounced him fit for discharge, Mr Kumar said.

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Mr Yeddyurappa defied party orders to resign as Chief Minister in July after a report on illegal mining indicted him along with other ministers. Mr Yeddyurappa finally agreed to quit if the BJP allowed him to hand-pick several members of the new cabinet, and the man who would replace him as Chief Minister.