Bengaluru: Top leaders of BJP, including party president Amit Shah, are unlikely to shift their focus from Gujarat to Karnataka to help the state unit overcome factionalism and to galvanize party workers ahead of next year’s elections to the Legislative Assembly.
Sources in the party said these leaders are keen to retain power in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah, and therefore will concentrate on strengthening the party in that state. This was evident from the response of Mr Shah when state unit president B.S.Yeddyurappa and few other leaders including Ballari MP, B. Sreeramulu called on the former soon after announcement of results of bypolls in Nanjangud and Gundlupet. “Jab waqt aayega, hum aayenge (When the time is ripe, we will focus on Karnataka)” was how Mr Shah responded to Mr Yeddyurappa’s invitation to visit the state.
A section of media had reported that Mr Shah expressed displeasure over party losing by-polls in Nanjangud and Gundlupet. Sources, however, said Mr Yeddyurappa briefed Mr Shah about the results and how the party worked to wrest both seats from the Congress. Next, he pleaded with Mr Shah to visit the state to boost the morale of workers only to be told that he would come at an appropriate time.
The state unit of BJP, battling groupism, has proved problematic for the central unit. In an attempt to set the house in order, Mr Yeddyurappa evidently tried to rope in central leaders for restoring discipline. His plan, however, might not come through in the near future, sources added.
