Bengaluru: Dissidence in Karnataka's ruling Congress has reached a flashpoint and senior leaders as well as MLAs are set to rebel against Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra claimed on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after the Ayudha Pooja celebrations at the BJP office, Mr. Vijayendra said Mr. Shivakumar's "political base is shaking". "He is frustrated as senior Congress leaders and MLAs are set to raise a banner of revolt against him. Hence, the Chief Minister is repeatedly trying to point an accusing finger at the Centre to divert public attention," he said.
Mr. Vijayendra, however, ruled out any move by the BJP to pull down the government. "People have voted the BJP to be in opposition this time. We will continue to be in the opposition for the remaining term of one-and-a-half years. There is no need for the BJP to unseat this Congress government," he said.
The BJP leader alleged the government had failed to handle the drought gripping the State, saying even persons with disabilities had come to the streets to demand social security pension. He said the Congress administration had not taken off on development work despite being in power for about three-and-a-half years.
On the all-party delegation expected to visit Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for drought relief, which the BJP has so far boycotted, Mr. Vijayendra said the party would take a decision after discussions with its own and opposition leaders.
He described his recent meeting with expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in Hubballi as "unexpected", at a common friend's house after a religious programme involving Jain monks. Asked whether he was working to bring Mr. Yatnal back into the party fold, he said, "Let us wait and watch."
On the sugarcane farmers' protest, he said a committee had been set up after Union Minister Pralhad Joshi raised the matter, and that Union Minister Shivaraj Singh Chauhan was expected to visit Karnataka soon. He claimed farmers had got justice only from the NDA government led by Mr. Modi.