Without naming the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Bharatiya Janata Party’s newly appointed State president Pralhad Joshi on Saturday squarely blamed him for the party’s dented image and also declared that the party was now free of trouble with his (Mr. Yeddyurappa) quitting.
“The mistakes in our party, including those related to our image, were mainly due to some leaders who were autocratic. I would like to assure you [party workers] that such mistakes will not be repeated,” he told party workers and leaders while formally assuming charge of the post at a function organised at the party State office here.
“The BJP is now trouble-free as the troublemakers have quit the organisation on their own,” he said. Offering to tender an apology to people of the State for the internal problems in the BJP, Mr. Joshi said he was confident that people would forgive the party and give it another opportunity by acknowledging the development works taken up by it.
He hinted that he was not for bringing back Mr. Yeddyurappa into the party. “I will speak to such people and tell them that whoever wants to join the party should come on our terms, unconditionally, and work along with the team. I know the party workers were pained by the happenings (groupism) then. I want to tell you that party leaders will stay united,” he said. Indirectly suggesting that people of some communities did not get opportunities during Mr. Yeddyurappa’s regime, he said all communities would get justice. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar too took a dig at Mr. Yeddyurappa saying “some people think that politics is all about issuing cheap statements. The people will teach them a lesson ”.
