The BJP’s gesture of postponing the appointment of state unit president by two months was not enough to cool the tempers of former chief minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa who was cut up with the party central leadership. Mr Yeddyurappa dealt a body blow to the party central leadership when he attacked party president Nitin Gadkari and praised the Congress party.
Mr Yeddyurappa apparently chose to embarrass the party on Friday, perhaps knowing the schedule of L.K. Advani who is likely to visit the city on Saturday to attend a private programme organised to felicitate lexicographer, Prof. G. Venkatasubbaiah. On October 2, Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley will be coming down to attend the final of a hockey tournament.
He had prepared to made a scathing attack against Mr Gadkari for ill-treating him in the party. But his loyalists reportedly requested him not to do so and asked him to wait till party to take the decision on the state president issue. Mr Yeddyurappa also took on his bête noire Ananth Kumar. “Soon after D.V. Sadananda Gowda became chief minister, Gadkariji promised to appoint me state unit president within 24 hours. But till today he has not kept his word... due to pressure from senior leader L.K. Advani, Mr Gadkari has not fulfilled his promise,” he said. He added: “You were influenced by Ananth Kumar. Why are you (Gadkari) creating confusion in the state BJP? You have advised us not to demand any post, at the same time you promised to appoint me state president.”
Praising the Congress, he said: “In the Congress party from Jahawarlal Nehru till Sonia Gandhi’s time, once they promised to any leader in the party, they will honour them gracefully, that is the greatness of the Congress party.”