Singh pats BSY for good work; to meet MLAs today

BJP national general secretary Arun Singh on Wednesday said the party state unit has no dissidence ahead of his meeting with MLAs and other leaders over the next two days. “Chief minister Yediyurappa is doing good work. If MLAs have any issue, they can speak to me separately,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.While political observers saw this as Singh dropping a broad hint against dissident partymen, it is unlikely to buy lasting peace for chief minister BS Yediyurappa. The Rajya Sabha member oversees the party’s affairs in Karnataka.Frustration against the chief minister’s camp is no longer a hush-hush affair as party leaders, including minister CP Yogeshwar, issued public statements conveying where they stood in the ongoing power struggle.

The partymen belonging to this camp are hoping to vent their frustration out at their one-on-one meeting with Singh on Thursday.It does not appear, according to the BJP sources, that Singh will convene a meeting of MLAs in the presence of both Yediyurappa and state unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel. One rumour was that a section of MLAs wanted Singh not to talk to them in the chief minister’s presence if he was holding a meeting with legislators.Some MLAs have also been pressing for a legislature party meeting, but the chief minister has been reluctant because of concerns that it might trigger a heated exchange of words.Rural development and panchayat raj minister KS Eshwarappa, who recently came into the open criticising Yediyurappa’s style of governance in a letter to the governor, on Wednesday, confirmed demands for CM’s change by a section of MLAs. “Whatever it is, we will respect the high command’s decision. I am confident that Arun Singh will resolve all issues and put an end to misunderstandings over the next two days,” the senior BJP leader said.Kateel tried to snub talks of change in leadership as he sought to do a fine balancing act. “Yediyurappa will remain in the post for next two years,” he said.Several legislators are said to be upset for a variety of reasons such as non-inclusion in the Cabinet and not getting enough funds for their constituencies. They are likely to raise issues of alleged interference by the CM’s family members in administration, complaints of corruption and sections of ministers remaining inactive, during the meeting with Singh.Revenue minister R Ashoka claimed 10 legislators have sought a meeting with Singh to discuss development works in their constituencies, and not to raise any other issues. Singh is in Bengaluru to strengthen the party, not to suggest any changes, he told reporters at Devanahalli.