BSY warns disgruntled leaders of disciplinary action

He terms their public criticism as 'anti-party' activity

Taking a tough stand against his dissatisfied party colleagues who were publicly accusing him of taking unilateral decisions regarding the appointment of office-bearers, Bharatiya Janata Party State president B. S. Yeddyurappa on Saturday warned them of initiating disciplinary action.

"Some people are indulging in anti-party activities through public statements which are giving scope for confusion. Such anti-party activities cannot be pardoned irrespective of the stature of the leader who is issuing such statements," Mr. Yeddyurappa remarked, in an obvious reference to senior leader K.S. Eshwarappa who had publicly criticised him.

"If there are any contentious issues, the leaders should resolve them through discussions with me instead of making public statements," he said while addressing the inaugural session of a meeting of the state office-bearers, legislators and MPs here.

He said he would constitute the disciplinary committee later in the day to help take action against those indulging in anti-party activities.

He sought to remind the party leaders and cadre that they had the responsibility of maintaining unity at a time when the other two main political parties of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) were indulging in internal squabbling.

Even as the disgruntled party old-timers have accused him of making appointments to the state and district office-bearers’ team without consulting senior party leaders or the state core committee, Mr. Yeddyurappa maintained that "good workers" had been appointed to these teams.

He also noted that the target of winning 150 of the total 224 seats in the State assembly in the elections to be held in 2013 could be achieved only if all the party workers and leaders worked full-time for the party in the next 19 months in an united manner.

Meanwhile, Mr. Eshwarappa who is critical of Mr. Yeddyurappa’s organisational decisions did not attend the meeting. Mr. Eshwarappa has demanded that the party’s highest decision making body of the core committee should hold a meeting to take stock of the situation.