Decks have been cleared for the entry of former Karnataka chief minister S Bangarappa into the Bharatiya Janata Party following his meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday afternoon.

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Bangarappa met the prime minister at the latter's residence and is understood to have expressed his desire to join the BJP.

BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu and former Union minister Ananth Kumar were present at the meeting.

Bangarappa is likely to join the party later in the day.