Putting an end to speculations over his next move, BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said he would quit the BJP by December and not join any other political outfit.

Stopping just short of clearly stating that he would float a new party, he hinted at the same by saying: “I will not join any political party. Those who want to join me could wait till December. I will not force anyone to follow me. I cannot swallow the insults heaped on me in the BJP.”

A formal announcement on his next move would be out at a mega rally to be organised by Yeddyurappa’s loyalists in Davangere on November 19. Though Yeddyurappa said he would chart his own course and was not looking at any political party, sources in the BJP said leaders of many political parties have been making overtures to woo the former chief minister.

“Although Congress leadership is averse to court the former chief minister, behind the screen efforts are on to work out an informal understanding with Yeddyurappa to ensure that the BJP is decimated in the next assembly elections. The Congress could then consider a post-poll alliance with Yeddyurappa’s outfit, as it is not keen to join hands with JD(S) after its bitter experience with JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda in the past,” said a senior MLA in Yeddyurappa’s camp. “We are looking at contesting in about 100 constituencies and ready to reduce it to around 75 if Congress agrees for a secret understanding,” the MLA added.

According to sources in the BJP, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav too is wooing Yeddyurappa with plans of forging a Lingayat-Muslim-Backwards front in the state as Mulayam is desperately looking out for a strong local leader after the death of S Bangarappa in the state for striking strong roots in South India for the SP.