BJP asks its Karnataka leaders shun personal attacks

Stung by escalating war of words among its front ranking leaders in the Karnataka unit, BJP today asked them to desist from personal attacks and adhere to the party discipline.

"I appeal to all important leaders of Karnataka to adhere to the party discipline. It has been witnessing situations wherein leaders embarass each other,"  BJP General Secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, winding up his two-day trouble shooting mission, told reporters here before leaving for Delhi.

The appeal comes in the backdrop sulking former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and his successor D V Sadananda Gowda taking swipe at each other in recent days. The party disapproved of the outburst by Yeddyurappa who recently hit out at Gowda and party General Secretary H N Anant Kumar accusing them of being responsible for the political turmoil in the party.

Since May 14 when he said he had put to put on hold his decision to quit BJP, Yeddyurappa has been targetting Kumar. "Anant Kumar is BJP General Secretary and important leader in Karnataka. It is not correct to make such accusations against him", Pradhan said when his reaction was sought to Yeddyurappa's charges.

Yeddyurappa, who has been sulking over the party sidelining him, attacked Kumar saying "Anant Kumar creates confusion and creates doubtful situation. It is a very tragic matter that Anant Kumar is not only misguiding the party, but also trying to dominate it".

Pradhan, who met MLAs and Ministers yesterday and today over the crisis that dogged the party and its government after nine ministers and many MLAs loyal to Yeddyurappa submitted their resignations to him last week, said he will apprise the central leadership of the situation (in the state).

Exuding optimism that the crisis could be resolved, he said:"There is nothing to worry. We can solve this by talking to everybody". He did not forget to praise Yeddyurappa describing him as "very important leader for BJP."He is our leader in Karnataka".

"I met all important leaders of Karnataka. I think we discussed the issues in a positive manner. I will apprise the high command leaders regarding the situation," he said. Pradhan also met Chief Minister Gowda and state BJP President K S Eswarappa.

Pradhan, however, avoided replying to a query about Yeddyurappa's decision not to attend the BJP National Executive being held in Mumbai from May 24. He said the party was evolving a strategy to ensure that it retained power in the next year assembly elections in Karnataka.

According to BJP sources, MLAs and Ministers wanted the party leadership to take an early decision on the crisis. Some of the loyalists of Yeddyurappa pleaded that their leader be given some "position" to retain him in the party.

A section of MLAs led by state unit General Secretary C T Ravi handed over a memorandum signed by 70 legislators seeking early expansion of the ministry, which has 11 vacancies.

Pradhan met Yeddyurappa yesterday when the former chief minister explained to him "the ill-treatment" meted out to him and expressed displeasure over the working style of Gowda.