BENGALURU: Infighting within the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a new turn on Thursday with disgruntled second-rung leaders sending word to state unit president B S Yeddyurappa that they would list their grievances in the presence of central leaders.
These leaders were scheduled to meet Mr Yeddyurappa in the party office today, but did not show up though the leader was waiting for them along with three general secretaries of the state unit.
Eight of the 20-0dd leaders sent a mail to Mr Yeddyurappa expressing their inability to meet him.
Quoting Mr Yeddyurappa’s previous statements, the dissidents said: “Even before meeting us, you had said some time ago that office bearers will not be changed and anyone having a grouse can approach party national president, Amit Shah. This shows you have already pronounced your view before meeting us. Therefore, we realised there is no point in meeting you now.” The disgruntled leaders suggested that they would like to meet Mr Yeddyurappa in the presence of central leaders.
Meanwhile, general secretary Aravind Limbavali, while speaking to the media, reiterated that the state unit was ready to discuss any issue or about any grievances within four walls of its office.
“None should go to the media. The party central leaders are closely watching developments in Karnataka. We have also informed the central leadership about these developments,” Mr Limbavali said after explaining the day’s developments.
Sources in the disgruntled leaders’ group told Deccan Chronicle that they stayed away from the meeting as part of their strategy.
“If we had met Mr Yeddyurappa and aired our views, we know what will be the outcome. In order to maintain the pressure on him, we decided to stay away from Thursday’s meeting,” said a leader of the group.
Meanwhile, Mr Yeddyurappa’s camp followers were disappointed. A few general secretaries who were upset with these disgruntled leaders later urged Mr Yeddyurappa to initiate disciplinary action against them including some former legislators. Mr Yeddyurappa, however, pacified them by saying it would be unfair if dissidents were not given a chance to speak.
