BJP in dilemma over action against Yeddyurappa men

Party fears losing majority if it cracks the whip on them

The ruling BJP, which is trying to recover from the jolt it received with the quitting of B S Yeddyurappa, is not even in a position to suspend its legislators who associated themselves with the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP). The BJP government may lose majority in the Assembly, if the party acts against them.

However, the party has been claiming that it will take ‘appropriate action’.

“Suspension will only give the violators of the party diktat freedom to do what they want. So, there is no question of suspending anyone. But we know what action needs to be taken,” said Raghunath Rao Malkapure, general secretary of the BJP.

When asked as to what action will be taken against those who violated the party diktat by attending the KJP programme on Friday, Malkapure said: “Some ministers too met Yeddyurappa.

Technically, they did nothing wrong, because they met him when he was still with the BJP. Henceforth, if any legislators or leaders identify themselves with the KJP, action will be initiated.”

Asked whether the party would take action in case the BJP men attend the KJP convention in Haveri, he said, “If they share the dais with the KJP leaders and deliver speeches, we will take action.

But if they sit among the crowd, then we will be constrained to initiate action. The provisions of the anti-defection law is applicable only when the whip of the party is violated in the legislature.”

‘Party watching’

Meanwhile, BJP State president K S Eshwarappa has said the party will take action against the five legislators and two MPs, including B Y Raghavendra, if they participate in KJP’s convention scheduled to be held in Haveri on December 9.

“We have decided to wait and watch whether legislators and MPs who attended Friday’s event when Yeddyurappa formally joined the KJP, participate in the Haveri convention. If they do so, action will be taken against them,” he said.

B P Harish, Nehru Olekar, H Halappa, Tarikere Suresh, Chikkanagoudar (all MLAs) and G S Basavaraj and B Y Raghavendra (MPs) had taken part in Yeddyurappa’s maiden press conference after he joined the KJP and released his party’s flag.

At the other end, KJP State president Dhananjay Kumar dared the BJP to take action against MLAs and MPs associated with Yeddyurappa.

 Speaking to reporters, he warned that the BJP should be ready to face the consequences if it initiates action.

“MLAs associated with the KJP have restrained from resigning, following instructions from Yeddyurappa.

“It should not be construed as weakness. The BJP should take it seriously,” he stated.

The political fate of those who were criticising Yeddyurappa and the KJP will be decided in about three months. The KJP will not bother about them. People will teach them a lesson. People are aware of Yeddyurappa’s contribution to the State’s development, he said.

‘Take action’

BJP legislator Belur Gopalakrishna demanded that the party take action against the party MLAs, MLCs and MPs who were present on the occasion of Yeddyurappa joining KJP on Friday.

He said these legislators should be expelled from the party for six years.

Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje should be warned and if she refuses to mend her ways, action should be taken against her without any hesitation, he said.

BJP State president K S Eshwarappa should immediately strip B J Puttaswamy of his ministerial post for openly criticising the BJP and its leaders. He said a majority of BJP MLAs who were supporting Yeddyurappa had abandoned him.

“About 70 MLAs were with him when he resigned as chief minister. But now, there is hardly anybody. Let him take away at least 25 MLAs, if he has guts. We also know how to protect the BJP government,” he said.