Advani signals exit for Yeddyurappa?

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In a speech which made it more than evident that he was distancing himself and the party from former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who has been imprisoned on land scam charges, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani declared at a public rally here on Sunday that he would not tolerate corruption— in the Congress or his own party.

He also did not forget to pat new Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda saying he had been providing clean governance.

Addressing BJP workers and supporters at the half filled National College ground here, Mr Advani said: “As far as corruption is concerned, it is not only the Congress I am talking about. I am referring to my party too. Corruption and good governance cannot go hand in hand’’, in what was a clear indication to party workers that the BSY episode was over as far as he was concerned.

The rally exposed the sharp divisions in the state BJP with at least a dozen ministers identified with the BSY camp staying away. They included high profile leaders like Shobha Karandlaje and V. Somanna and others including Umesh Katti, Basavaraj Bommai, Murugesh Nirani, C.M. Udasi and M.P. Renukacharya.

Ministers identified with the rival Ananth Kumar—Jagadish Shettar faction including Mr Shettar himself, R. Ashok and Anand Asnotikar were seen playing an active role in the proceedings. Party president K.S. Eshwarappa and Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda too were present.

The only saving grace for Yeddyurappa was the BJP patriarch’s remark that levelling allegations against someone did not mean they were culprits. The allegations have to be proved in the court, he said.

The veteran BJP leader devoted a major part of his speech targeting the Congress led UPA government. “I had a lot of respect for Manmohan Singh before he became PM. However, this has become one of the most corrupt governments in post-independence India.”

The media glare and no-shows

* L.K. Advani on Sunday stayed away from the media, ostensibly to avoid uncomfortable questions on corruption allegations plaguing the BJP government in the state. Advani called off his scheduled meetings with the press

* Ministers Shobha Karandlaje, V. Somanna, Umesh Katti, Basavaraj Bommai, Murugesh Nirani, C.C. Patil, C.M. Udasi, M.P. Renukacharya, Revu Naik Belamagi, Raju Gowda, C.P. Yogeshwar and Vartur Prakash stayed away from the rally

* A bullet proof vehicle, which brought L.K. Advani and his daughter Pratibha to the Nedumabassery
airport in Kochi on Sunday evening was found to have leaked fuel