Worries never seem to end for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Now, it is the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa who is trying to embarrass the party organisation by indirectly attacking Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda himself. A day after his return from Varanasi on Tuesday, he alleged “that some people within the party were trying to split the Lingayat community”, which has been his main support base in politics.
He said that he would be bringing the issue to the notice of the party's central leaders. He also remarked that “luck” favoured Mr. Sadananda Gowda when he became the Chief Minister.
Mr. Yeddyurappa is said to be upset that the Chief Minister was invited to two different programmes organised by Lingayat community in the last two days, while he was not.
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It is learnt that he has convened a meeting of his supporters in Bangalore on Thursday ahead of the party's two-day brainstorming session that is scheduled to commence on Friday with party national president Nitin Gadkari attending it.
This is also being seen as an attempt by Mr. Yeddyurappa to consolidate his support base.
He hopes to draw the attention of the party central leaders, who will be in Bangalore on Friday and Saturday, after his repeated visits to Delhi seeking a suitable political position failed to yield the desired results.
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However, Mr. Yeddyurappa's outbursts have not gone well with the party leadership who do not want him to rake up intra-party differences when the party is trying to send a unity message as it prepares to face the by-poll to the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency.
“Indiscipline by any leader, irrespective of his stature, cannot be tolerated,” said a party leader.
This episode is likely to come up during the party's brainstorming session. The party is also worried about Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar reportedly distancing himself from the Chief Minister's camp.
At the session, the party will discuss the conduct of its legislators and leaders in the context of the Assembly episode involving three Ministers. It would also discuss preparations for the elections to the various bodies scheduled this year and the Assembly next year.
All eyes on CEC
Meanwhile, political circles are eagerly waiting to see what the Central Empowered Committee will say in response to the specific direction of the Supreme Court to give its view on whether a CBI probe should be ordered against the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.