RSS, BJP may again take up fire-fighting mission

Concerned over the behaviour of the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and his supporters, who are again raking up the leadership issue despite being told to desist from commenting on it, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are likely to look at the issue again soon after the RSS regional camp to be held in Hubli from January 27 to 29.

The RSS leaders and senior BJP leaders had recently managed to effect a truce between the warring leaders of the party and warned them against raising the leadership issue again.

They had sternly told them - especially Mr. Yeddyurappa who was keen on returning as chief minister - to leave the decision on leadership issue to the party high command.

Things went smoothly for a few days after the pep talk by RSS as Mr. Yeddyurappa and his supporters maintained a low profile.

But the truce appears to be becoming uneasy now as Mr. Yeddyurappa and some of the ministers close to him have again started making indirect references to the leadership issue.

This has not only embarrassed the party organisation as well as its government, but also given a message to the party cadre that there is no unity among the party leaders. Following this, the BJP organisation is planning to take stock of the issue and take up the fire-fighting mission again along with RSS leaders. As the entire focus of the RSS is now on holding the Hindu Shatki Sangama of North Karnataka region in Hubli, the party has decided to wait for this event to get over.

Meeting

Meanwhile, the BJP has convened a meeting of party top leaders, including its office-bearers and ministers, on January 30 to discuss various organisational issues, including the steps to be taken by the party ahead of the elections to urban local bodies and those related to the state budget to be presented by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

Though there is a speculation that the Yeddyurappa camp may mobilise its supporters and take up the demand for his reinstatement as chief minister at the meeting, sources in the BJP made it clear that there was no question of budging to such tactics as that would amount to indiscipline.

On Monday, the Chief Minister sought to play down the ongoing episode of rebellion by telling presspersons that he has seen several intra-party problems right from the days of his tenure as party State unit president and that the party was capable of handling such problems.