Modi show: Ashok, Limbavali spar as differences worsen in Karnataka BJP

Bengaluru: Inspite of the change of guar at the central level, the state BJP has not set its house in order.
Differences have worsened in the state BJP which became evident at a recent meeting at the party office to discuss the felicitation programme for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at HAL airport on September 23.
BJP state leaders held a discussion with BBMP councilors and Bengaluru leaders on the felicitation programme with the state leadership assigning the task of arranging programme to former deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok. BJP President Pralhad Joshi and Union minister Ananth Kumar made Mr. Ashok in-charge of the programme considering his organizational skills.
However former minister and Mahadevapura constituency MLA Aravind Limbavali has opposed the party decision. He registered his protest with party president Mr. Joshi and Ananth Kumar for giving the responsibility to Ashok, said party sources.
Mr. Limbavali had expressedhis willingness to arrange Mr Modi’s program at HAL airport. He reportedly argued with the party leadership that, it was not a right decision by the party to assign the responsibility to Ashok.
He said that the HAL Airport comes under j C.V. Raman Nagar constituency and was very close to his own Mahadevapura constituency. However, the party state leadership has rejected the demand of Mr. Limbavali. Even party President Pralhad Joshi openly announced at the BJP councilors meeting that Ashok will be given the task of arranging the welcome programme for the Prime Minister.
Even party leaders expressed their displeasure over Mr Limbavali’sopposiiton to the party decision.
They complained that Mr. Limbavali was hardly attending to Bengaluru party affairs and felt the part had taken the right decision in appointing Ashok as in-charge for the Modi programme at HAL airport.
“Mr. Limbavali is not interested in attending party programmes, so how can the party entrust the responsibility to him? Moreover HAL airport come under the jurisdiction of C.V. Raman Nagar constituency. BJP MLA Raghu represents that constituency. If party desires, it can give the responsibility to Mr Raghu but not Aravind Limbavali,” said a party MLC.