BSY enters the scene to end groupism in BJP, offers to attend local organisational meetings to ensure unity

BJP leader Yediyurappa steps in to end party groupism, emphasizes unity ahead of local elections, addressing rebel concerns.

In an interesting turn, veteran BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa has himself entered the scene now to put an end to groupism in the party. His move comes in the wake of the party cadre expressing concern over the prolonged squabble between the camps of rebels and his son and party State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra.

On Friday, Mr. Yediyurappa attended a meeting of the party’s incumbent and former legislators, defeated leaders and others that had been convened by Mr. Vijayendra in Bengaluru to send a message of unity.

In an obvious reference to the groupism that has percolated to the ground level, Mr. Yediyurappa reportedly said he himself would start visiting all district- and taluk-level organisational meetings to ensure that all the party’s leaders attend them, irrespective of their group affiliations.

The veteran leader is believed to have told all the leaders to work unitedly to strengthen the party organisation, especially in the wake of the upcoming elections to local bodies.

Interestingly, none of the rebel leaders of the party attended the meeting. Later, while answering a query by media persons on whether this meeting turned out to be a show of strength against the rebels, Mr. Vijayendra said, “Today’s meeting was never an attempt to either put up a show of strength or seek expulsion of anyone from the party.”

He said the main agenda of the meeting was to take senior leaders into confidence and discuss the ways and means of facing zilla and taluk panchayat elections.

The party cadre, especially those who do not belong to either of the rival groups, are upset over the squabbling in the party. These “neutral” leaders and prominent functionaries, who form the majority in terms of numbers, feel that groupism in the party is coming in the way of the party effectively using the present political situation to put the Congress government on the mat. They have plans of meeting the party high command on this issue.