Angry with the party for not considering him for the post of Karnataka BJP president, the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday trained his guns on the high command, including president Nitin Gadkari, even as the party’s top leaders were attending the National Council meeting in Haryana.
Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Yeddyurappa embarrassed the high command by asking Mr. Gadkari to “appreciate the Congress leadership, which has never let down their leaders on false allegations unlike the BJP, which has not kept its promises.”
In a letter to Mr. Gadkari, he said: “From the era of Jawaharlal Nehru to Sonia Gandhi, the Congress never let down its leaders. Once they make a promise, they do not change their stance. This is the greatness of Congress leaders. But in our party, you [Gadkari] promised so many things to me. You did not keep them for no reason.”
Mr. Yeddyurappa said such a situation — of the party going back on its promise — was being witnessed not only in Karnataka, but in several other States and asked Mr. Gadkari to introspect.
“You say that even an ordinary worker can go on to occupy top posts in the BJP if he is eligible. I strove to build the party for the last 40 years and helped it to come to power for the first time in the State. Despite this, you paid heed to leaders like national general secretary Ananth Kumar and did not implement the promise made to me, leading to confusion in the State,” he said.
“On the one hand you speak of high ideology. But how are you conducting yourself?” He also accused Mr. Gadkari of being responsible for bringing about a new political system of appointing two Deputy Chief Ministers in the State only to encourage leaders opposed to him.
Mr. Yeddyurappa claimed that Mr. Gadkari promised to appoint him State president within 24 hours about six months ago.
Launching a tirade against Mr. Ananth Kumar, he blamed him for all the problems of the party.
