With its rebel leader B.S. Yeddyurappa firm on joining the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) on December 9, the Bharatiya Janata Party is focussing on keeping its flock together in a bid to prevent the former Chief Minister from wooing its leaders and elected representatives.
After holding meetings with its State leaders, MPs and Ministers recently, the party has taken its flock-keeping exercise to the district-level. The party on Wednesday commenced district-wise meetings of its prominent leaders reportedly to assess the impact of Mr. Yeddyurappa’s imminent exit on the party units in the districts. Of course, the ongoing meetings are also focussing on the party’s preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
On Wednesday, the party’s top leaders held consultations with the district-level core committees comprising leaders from the districts of Bagalkote, Bijapur, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Bangalore Rural. Ministers from these districts also took part in the consultations. These meetings are to go on for a few days. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and the two Deputy Chief Ministers K.S. Eshwarappa and R. Ashok took part in the meetings, along with other senior leaders.
Disciplinary action
According to sources, the district units have been instructed to take steps to prevent leaders from associating with the KJP. The party, which recently warned its legislators and MPs of disciplinary action if they identify themselves with the KJP, including attending the rally to be held by Mr. Yeddyurappa in Haveri on December 9, is learnt to have issued a similar warning to the district-level leaders and elected representatives at the meetings.
