The ruling BJP’s leader in charge of Karnataka affairs, Dharmendra Pradhan, wound up his two-day visit after unsuccessful attempts at papering cracks within the state unit, on Saturday. Mr Pradhan held one-on-one meetings with former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, his supporters, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, and state unit president K S Eshwarappa but failed to unite the warring factions. While Mr Yeddyurappa vent his ire against senior central leaders and conveyed his intention to abstain from the two-day national executive commencing in Mumbai on May 24, supporters of Mr Gowda demanded a go-ahead for expansion of the cabinet.
Emerging out of the meetings, Mr Pradhan told media persons, “I have taken the views of ministers and state BJP leaders on the ongoing internal issues within the party. I will submit a detailed report to the central leadership on views expressed.”
He said the issue of creating the deputy chief minster’s post did not come up for discussion. But sources said Municipal Administration Minister Balachandra Jarkiholi did suggest Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Lingayat leader Jagadish Shettar’s name for the post. His argument was that with it, the influence of Mr Yeddurappa, the undisputed leader of the community as of now, would be diluted, helping the party tide over the crisis triggered by the former chief minister.
On Mr Yeddyurappa’s frequent and scathing attacks on his bête noire and BJP national general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar, Mr Pradhan said, “Mr Kumar is our party national leader. Criticising him in public is not good. I oppose such acts of the former chief minister.”
Though it was to be a meeting of only the leaders, six ministers loyal to Mr Yeddyurappa arrived at the party office with groups in tow. Mr Pradhan, however, refused to address the gathering and met the ministers individually. All of them requested that issues raised by the former chief minister should be given due consideration and he should be persuaded to remain in the party.
They blamed Mr Sadananda Gowda and party state president K.S. Eshwarappa of taking “unilateral” decisions and keeping BSY in the dark. Labour Minister B.N. Bachche Gowda was next. Coming out of the meeting, he said: “I requested Mr Pradhan to retain Mr Yeddyurappa within the party. If he quits, the BJP will suffer a lot.” MLAs C.T. Ravi, Sogadu Shivanna and Aravinda Limbavali pitched for cabinet expansion on grounds that developmental activities have taken a backseat with the decision hanging fire.