Former union minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda expressed disappointment over the BJP central leadership turning a blind eye to the growing internal turmoil within the state BJP, and the open dissent against the state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra by the rebel faction led by senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal.
The factional feud in the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka has reached a peak ahead of the state core committee meeting scheduled on December 2 and 3 and the former chief minister also admitted that he was disappointed as the party high command had not responded to his letters apprising them of the worsening situation in the state.
“I reiterate that the leadership should focus on ‘cleaning up’ the party. I understand the central leadership was preoccupied with elections. I have apprised the central leadership about the developments in the state BJP twice through letters. I am saddened by the fact that they have not acknowledged my letters. I am hoping to visit Delhi. It is time the central BJP leaders paid attention to Karnataka BJP. They should not make any excuses not to intervene,” said Gowda.
The veteran leader urged the warring factions to catch a flight to Delhi to meet the party leaders instead of hitting the streets. “Our party leadership has shown the world what is the organisational strength and is capable of resolving the differences. Any leader who is unwilling to redress the issues before the party seniors and chooses to do it in an open forum is nothing but a selfish person. He does not deserve to be a leader of the BJP. There is still three-and-a-half years to the next Assembly elections and the party should not wake up when it is six months to the elections as it might be too late to repair what is broken,” cautioned Gowda.
Stating that Karnataka BJP should not have reached this pitiable state, Gowda expressed helplessness of senior state leaders in setting things right locally. "The Congress steeped in corruption has served issues on a golden platter, but the BJP is not in a situation to raise any of the issues as they are busy fighting each other," he added.
“Those who are fighting on the streets don't seem to care about anyone. None of the leaders who are engaging in street brawl or watching it silently deserve to be in the BJP. The earthworm should enhance the soil fertility as a worm and should never try to be a cobra," said Gowda in a cryptic comment over legislators fighting to dominate each other.
Groupism was not new to the BJP, but the bitterness never spilled out to the streets, said the former state BJP chief recalling party veterans H.N. Ananth Kumar and B.S. Yediyurappa who had together built the party in the state but had remained as competitors.
The former chief minister stated that the ruling Congress was involved in several scams and as the opposition party, the BJP could easily corner the government. “All the Congress scams now seem insignificant as the internal conflict within the BJP has overshadowed everything. Today, no one takes the opposition leaders in the Assembly or the Council seriously because the same leaders can be seen huddled in the ruling party's chamber in the evening,” said Gowda.
Elaborating on the MUDA case, Gowda said the case was before the court and the people have decided that the BJP is no longer capable of working as a constructive opposition. “The BJP leaders are using all their might to fight amongst themselves and not against the Congress government. This is due to the ego problem of some leaders. The organisation cannot grow unless it develops leaders without any ego hassles. The party has officially appointed the state chief or the opposition leader and as party members, it is our duty to respect these posts,” said Gowda, who called upon the central ministers from the state. Gowda reminded them that their role was crucial to build and strengthen the organisation in the state.
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Stressing on the need to discuss any disagreement only within the party forum, Gowda reasoned that the party has tried many new formulae, elevated first-time MLAs to the post of the chief minister or roped in senior leaders and chief ministers for organisation work. “So, I feel the party will take a call on replacing anyone after due deliberations. People who are against the appointment of the state chief or anyone else should go to Delhi and discuss. Moreover, there is no guarantee that merely changing the party president would resolve all issues and there won't be groupism,” added Gowda.
Yatnal who is leading a separate anti-Wakf campaign, while boycotting the party’s campaign said that his “team” would not accept the leadership of the “father-son” (Yediyurappa-Vijayendra) duo as they were aligned with the Congress leaders.
“What is Sadananda Gowda’s problem? I am only staging a protest against Wakf here. Gowda has spoken worse things about Yediyurappa. I suggest that he should keep his mouth shut. I don’t want to respond to ‘fading lamps’,” said Yatnal, upset over Gowda’s advice.
