Bengaluru: The much anticipated core committee meeting of the state BJP on Wednesday failed to resolve the crisis within the party with its president, B S Yeddyurappa refusing to modify the list of office bearers despite the pleas of the members present to rectify it.
Sticking to his guns on the list , Mr Yeddyurappa only offered to hold one to one meetings with the district office bearers to hear their grievances and then went on the offensive, pulling up senior party leaders, K.S.Eshwarappa and C.T. Ravi for holding a meeting of “ dissidents” at the party office recently.
“You could have brought up these matters at a party platform instead,” he told them sternly. The two leaders, however, defended holding the meeting, saying it was not an “anti-party” activity and was only meant for hearing the complaints of party cadres across the districts on the appointment of office bearers.
Former Chief Minister, Jagadish Shettar, meanwhile, made a futile attempt to convince Mr Yeddyurappa to give an opportunity to party workers, who had been ignored despite their many years of service to the BJP and suggested the constitution of a sub-committee to hear what the cadres in the districts had to say.
He said the core committee could tweak the office –bearers' list based on the report of the sub-committee, but was shot down by Mr .Yeddyurappa, who categorically refused to constitute any such body.
“We don’t expect the entire office bearers’ list to be overhauled, but only some modifications to give a chance to deserving party workers, especially from Koppal, Raichuru, Yadgir, Bidar, Ballari and Gadag districts, where there is most unrest, but Yeddyurappa refused to revisit the list,” said a core committee member.
Another senior leader found it “very disturbing” that the BJP chief was not willing to compromise or even talk to upset workers. “Although we have openly endorsed his leadership and he will be our Chief Ministerial candidate, Yeddyurappa is not ready to believe there is no threat to him. He is not confident and so its not possible to resolve differences,” he regretted.
Can’t have separate forums of this kind: BSY
“Leaders of the BJP conducting separate conventions in the name of communities is unfair. Hence I have instructed party workers not to take part in such conventions”, State BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa told Deccan Chronicle in Shivamogga on Wednesday.
He continued that one can participate in different community conventions but it was not fair for party leaders to organize such conventions. “If the convention organizers invite us. it would be right to participate”, he clarified, adding, “I have asked party workers not to attend the convention.
Meanwhile, senior leader K.S. Eshwarappa justified the launching of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade and the proposed Hinda convention in spite of State BJP In-charge Muralidhar Rao’s instructions not to launch the Brigade. “The Hinda convention and launching of the Brigade will benefit the party and me too,” he reasoned.
