Arun Singh’s tour raises hopes in BSY rival camp

BJP national general secretary Arun Singh’s three-day visit to Karnataka beginning Wednesday has raised hopes among a section of party MLAs and other leaders who want to share their grievances about chief minister BS Yediyurappa in a bid to lobby for his replacement. They are seeking to send a message to the party’s Delhi leadership that all is not well in the state and that the clamour for a change in leadership is only growing by the day.The recent spate of clarifications from Singh — who is in charge of the party affairs in the state — that the CM will complete his term has not silenced dissident voices or groupings. “What we have asked for is a platform to hear us. There are many issues that we would like to raise in the meeting with the general secretary,” a BJP MLA from the rival camp told ET.With the assembly election less than two years away, the party leaders should get on to an image-makeover drill immediately, he said. When asked specifically if they meant CM's change by image-building, he said the party leaders know how they have to go about the exercise to make the state unit fit to fight assembly polls.The interference by the CM's family members, corruption and sections of ministers remaining inactive were some of the issues the opposition camp has listed to present before Singh. “All MLAs should get the respect they deserve. The government should also implement promises made in the last election manifesto,” another lawmaker said, suggesting displeasure over the administration.Some of the MLAs are also expected to press for a legislature party meeting, but the chief minister is said to be reluctant fearing that it might lead to a heated exchange of words between the loyals and rivals and ugly scenes. Many BJP leaders including KS Eshwarappa, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad and CP Yogeshwar have over the past few months made open statements about Yediyurappa, causing embarrassment to the state leadership. Singh is set to hear out all ministers, MLAs and office-bearers over the next three days. “I will sort out differences by talking to all concerned,” he had recently said.On the change in leadership, the BJP general secretary had said last week that the BJP leadership had no plans to change Yediyurappa and that he would complete his term. His statement came days after Yediyurappa had offered to resign if the high command asked him to.

from Economic Times https://bit.ly/3grDjmI
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