The fact that former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa and some of his Cabinet colleagues are in prison facing land scam and corruption cases, will not deter BJP patriarch L.K. Advani from making a trip to Bengaluru on October 30 to address an anti-graft rally. Despite fears that the Bengaluru rally will do no good to the image of
the BJP at a time when Mr Advani is on a nationwide rath yatra against corruption, the party has decided to go ahead with the programme, said BJP state president K.S. Eshwarappa.
“I am not aware of any plan to keep Bengaluru off the itinerary of my Janchetna Yatra. I came to know about it only from media. I will go to Karntaka and of course to Bengaluru as well,” the party patriarch told mediapersons in Chhattisgarh before kicking off his second and final day’s yatra in Chhattisgarh.
When his attention was drawn to reported disapproval by some Karnataka BJP leaders to his criticism of Mr Yeddyurappa, he said, “I am not going to comment on it.” He, however, hastened to add, “My comment on Mr Yeddyurappa is nothing new. In fact, I had cautioned the former Karnataka chief minister in front of him at Bangalore.”
Speaking to reporters here, Mr Eshwarappa said that there was no confusion in the party on this count. “Why is the media apprehensive about the rally? It is going to happen and we are organising it,’’ he said.
Sources said Mr Eshwarappa has convened a meeting of all legislators from Bengaluru on Monday to work out details of the rally. Since the party is facing an ‘image crisis’ with several top leaders in jail, the rally will serve as a morale booster, feels the top brass.
Sources said there were apprehensions among party leaders about the success of the rally too. For one, till October 28, most people, including party workers will be busy in Diwali celebrations. It will be difficult to organise the rally and ensure a huge turn-out in these circumstances, explained the sources.
However, Mr Eshwarappa has made it clear to party workers that there is no going back on the rally which has to be made a success at any cost. The party feels that if Mr Advani skips the rally, it would give more fodder to the Opposition to target the ruling party and its tainted leaders, the sources added.