BJP keen on bringing rebels back to fold

Central leaders advise the State unit not to antagonise Yeddyurappa followers

Despite former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s open challenge to the BJP to take action against his followers, the party central leadership is learnt to have advised the Karnataka unit leaders to try to bring back the rebel MLAs to the party fold instead of acting against them in haste.

Though in a recent meeting the party high command had discussed the trouble faced by Karnataka unit after Yeddyurappa’s exit, it was decided that state leaders should talk to all rebel MLAs individually and try to bring them back to the organisation.

Of the 15 MLAs who attended the Haveri rally organised by the Lingayat leader, many of them went to due to his pressure and compulsion.

There is no hurry to initiate the process for taking action against them when many of them are considering changing their stand, a senior leader from the central leadership told Deccan Herald.

“The state leadership is already in talks with the rebel MLAs and many of them promised to remain in the party if the organisation addressed their problems,” said the leader. The party will address all the concerns of the MLAs including giving party ticket in the next Assembly elections.

Will try to convince

Instead of antagonising the MLAs by issuing showcause notices, it is better to convince them about the advantages of staying in the party than joining a new outfit, said the leader.

The central leaders will again meet after the outcome of Gujarat poll to discuss the Karnataka unit issue and till that time, the State unit leaders will hold talks with rebel leaders and send their report.

Besides, despite pressure from a section of leaders to dissolve the Assembly, the central leaders are now in favour of saving the government till the Assembly poll. Instead of Governor’s rule, it is better to have our own government at the helm during the poll period, said the leader.

Counter measures

Ruling out the chances of dissolution of the Assembly at this juncture, the leader said the party will project Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar as the Lingayat leader to counter Yeddyurappa.

Besides, the party also decided to hold a massive rally across the State in which national general secretary Anantkumar, former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Deputy Chief Ministers K S Eshwarappa and R Ashok will participate to block Yeddyurappa’s attempt to lure party supporters.