Sources have made a statement that the BJP’s central leadership has played down the factionalism that has erupted in its Karnataka unit and said its even-handed response removing four office-bearers, two from each faction sends a message that State leaders should fall in line.
In a boost to former Chief Minister and current party chief B.S. Yeddyurappa, however, party interlocutors were clear that the central leadership had “no confusion” over the question of who would lead the State unit and be the party’s chief ministerial candidate in the Assembly polls.
A senior central office bearer involved in the issue stated that “The
central leadership has sent a message through these expulsions of what is
considered acceptable behavior. In any case, we don’t see a great or serious
problem which creates a challenge for what the party wants to achieve in
Karnataka. We are not saying everything is smooth, but the people in the State
unit on both sides also understand that for the central leadership, the leader
of the campaign for the elections next year and for the party as its face is a
settled fact".
Meanwhile matters within the State unit of the BJP had come to a head last week when, under the banner of the Rayanna Brigade, former Deputy Chief Minister Eswarappa criticized Mr. Yeddyurappa. The latter, on his part, had blamed joint national organizational general secretary B.L. Santhosh of not doing enough to curb dissidence. General secretary P. Muralidhar Rao had been rushed to Bengaluru over the weekend to sort matters. Two vice-presidents, the chief of the party’s farmer’s cell, and a spokesperson were sacked from their posts, an even-handed stick to the two sides.
