BENGALURU: If there’s unrest in the Congress, can the BJP be far behind?
The dissent has evidently spread to the principal opposition with second rung leaders, who are miffed with the ‘autocratic’ style of functioning of BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa, demanding fresh appointment of office bearers of state and district units, on Tuesday.
These leaders also used the party forum to express their ire against former minister and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP, Shobha Karandlaje, for meddling frequently in the affairs of the party.
They were unanimous in their demand that the entire process of appointment of office bearers must be revisited as several party workers were denied a place in these teams.
“While appointing the district office bearers, we thought Mr Yeddyurappa will elicit the opinion of district leaders and past presidents. He hurriedly appointed district office bearers and office bearers to various Morchas,” several leaders said.
“The appointment process indicates functioning of BJP state unit in coming days. If any party ignores internal democracy, that party will be wiped out. It has been proved in the past. Therefore, none must ignore internal democracy, and ignoring the voice of the cadre will harm the party,” the leaders said at the meeting, adding that members of the core committee and Mr Yeddyurappa should ensure that workers are given their due through these appointments.
One leader remarked: “We are not opposing those who have been appointed as office bearers, but the manner in which these appointments were made was not appropriate and it hurt us.”
They came down heavily on Ms Shobha Karandalje for playing a dominant role in affairs of the party and calling the shots on important issues. They were upset that Mr Yeddyurappa was compelling party workers to meet her and list their grievances, thus adding to their woes. In addition to leader of opposition in the Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa, party leaders, Nalin Kumar Kateel, C.T. Ravi, Aravinda Limbavali, N. Ravikumar, Somanna Bevinamarada, Srinivasa Poojari, Ravindranath, Revu Naik Belamagi, Nirmal Kumar Surana, Banu Prakash, Sogadu Shivanna and others attended the meeting and elaborately discussed. recent developments in the party after Central leaders appointed Mr Yeddyurappa as the state unit president.
