Minister for rural development and Panchayat Raj Jagadish Shettar, who had of late had moved closer to former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurapa’s camp, now appears to be distancing himself from the former CM’s camp, which became clear from the stance he adopted on the issue of convening the BJP legislature party meeting. The Yeddyurappa camp had on Wednesday demanded that the BJPLP meeting be convened immediately to discuss the confidential letter written by the Chief Minister and the party state unit chief to the central leadership.
Mr Shettar, who was here to launch the Family Sanitation programme, remained non-committal about the convening of the BJPLP meeting. “I don’t know who mooted the idea (of convening the BJPLP). I am not aware of the development, I have only read in the media,” was his reaction when his comments were sought on the BSY camp’s demand for convening the BJPLP. Mr Shettar also evaded replying to a query on whether the present situation warranted convening of the BJPLP.
Asked whether he endorsed the move or not, a smiling Mr Shettar shot back “why should I clarify my stand through the media. I’m a disciplined worker of the party and don’t want to openly debate such issues.” However, Mr Shettar said, “Mr Yeddyurappa is a senior leader of our party and he should be given a suitable post. In future I will support whatever decision the high command takes (on giving a post to Yeddyurappa).” The minister said that he sees nothing wrong with working with Mr Yeddyurappa as the latter was a senior leader of the BJP. Asked whether the present developments had affected the party image, he remarked, that everyone knew the answers and he did not have to shed light on the issue.
Regarding the confidential letter, Mr Shettar felt the CM and the party state unit chief were the right persons to answer on it. Asked whether his loyalty lie with the party or Mr Yeddyurappa, Mr Shettar said since his family had close ties with RSS, his loyalty was always with the party.