National general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party Muralidhar Rao has said that the party was against “dynastic politics” of the Congress. He, however, was non-committal on whether the party will stop issuing party ticket to children of BJP leaders in the coming elections.
Mr. Rao was addressing presspersons here on Wednesday prior to holding a review meeting of party office-bearers on election preparations along with the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar, Pralhad Joshi, MP, party State General Secretary C.T. Ravi, and others.
Referring to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s statement of political and business dynasties in India, Mr. Rao said the party was against dynastic rule. “The party is of the view that dynastic politics weakens democracy and true democracy weakens dynastic politics.”
But on a specific question on whether the party will not offer ticket to more than one member of political families in BJP, Mr. Rao evaded giving a straight answer. “The issue of party ticket is still a distant issue. We will not allow a situation wherein one political family becomes inevitable for the party,” he added. Alleging that the BJP in Karnataka was a victim of bad law and order situation because of which it had lost several workers, he said the party was against any sort of violence and had condemned the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh. “However, Mr. Rahul Gandhi has launched an orchestrated campaign against the BJP and the Sangh Parivar solely with an objective of derailing the investigation being initiated by government led by his own party. And it is being done deliberately to target someone,” he said.
Mr. Rao alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka was becoming a threat to the country’s security by providing base to organisations that might work towards recruitment of “jihadis”.
Reiterating that B.S. Yeddyurappa was the Chief Ministerial candidate for the BJP, Mr. Rao said “pro- farmer” Yeddyurappa has take personal interest to sort out the Mahadayi row by meeting BJP leaders in Maharashtra and Goa. “Now, Mr. Yeddyurappa wants Mr. Siddaramaiah to meet Congress leaders in both the States to pave way for discussion. But Mr. Siddaramaiah is politicising the issue,” he said.
When asked about Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s categorical statement opposing any “out of tribunal” mediation, Mr Rao just said that it was Mr. Siddaramaiah’s responsibility to convince Congressmen in both the States.
When asked about BJP’s election slogan of “Corruption free Karnataka” when its own leaders were facing several charges, Mr. Rao said that BJP’s stand was clear on fighting corruption.
