Leadership change necessary in Karnataka: BJP leader

BJP MLC H Vishwanath pressed for the demand for change in leadership in Karnataka. His comments came as BJP national general secretary Arun Singh is on a three-day visit to the state to resolve the feud within the party.

Bengaluru: BJP national general secretary and Karnataka party in-charge Arun Singh is on a three-day visit to the state to resolve the feud within the party. Singh held a meeting with selected MLAs and leaders on Thursday, following which the BJP's core committee meeting will be held. Singh is scheduled to hold one-on-one meetings with the party's rebel legislators, discuss internal crisis within the party.

During Thursday's meeting, MLC H Vishwanath pressed for their demand for change in leadership. Commenting on Yediyurappa's age and health, he said, BS Yediyurappa is not in the spirit to run the government as Chief Minister. "Panchamasaali community person should be made CM and let Yediyurappa be a mentor as under his leadership family interference and corruption in the administration is becoming worst. Public opinion regarding the government and party is negative. It is not good," Vishwanath said while addressing the media.

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Suggesting the names of Murugesh Nirani, Basanagowda Yatnal and Aravind Bella, he said that all of them are capable of holding the post of CM and apart from Yediyurappa someone else needs to be appointed adding that he is a BJP activist and is neither in support nor against anyone in the administration. Putting his points before Arun Singh, he told the media that Singh will consider his suggestion seriously as he has given him a detailed explanation of the prevalent situation.

Vishwanath also accused Yediyurappa and state BJP vice-president BY Vijayendra of being corrupt by highlighting the Jindal case and saying that the irrigation department had called for a tender of Rs 20 crore which has neither been approved by the Department of Finance nor irrigation corporations yet.

On the other hand, BJP state secretary N Ravikumar said that the party would take disciplinary action against H Vishwanath for accusing the Chief Minister and the state government of corruption.

N Ravikumar said, "H Vishwanath's statement has embarrassed the government and the party. This is reprehensible. There is a need to understand the policies of the BJP. It was his personal opinion on Yediyurappa and the party rejects it."

"The issue has been brought to the notice of party president Nalin Kumar Kateel and BJP state in-charge Arun Singh. I have urged him to take appropriate action," he added.

Meanwhile, Former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi stood in favour of the incumbent Chief Minister and advised that Yediyurappa should continue as the CM for the next 2 and half years. Speaking to reporters Jarkiholi said, "I would contest the next election under the leadership of Yediyurappa. We have joined the BJP trusting Yeddyurappa and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. I urge Yediyurappa to call all the BJP members to address their issue."

Read:|BJP's Arun Singh to visit Bengaluru on June 16

"CP Yogeshwar is my friend and his role is to bring together our 20 MLAs. I also urged him to discuss his issue with the CM. All BJP MLAs are like one family and only a few have raised their voices to change the state leadership. We have to stay united as the Opposition has no other work rather than speaking against the ruling party," he added.

Reacting to KS Eshwarappa's statement that problems in Karnataka BJP emerged after 17 MLAs joined the party, he said, "I am sure Eshwarappa did not mean it as he is not that kind of man. He speaks directly and has an open heart. Media must have twisted his statement."

"There is no good man like him. Eshwarappa always credited the 17 MLAs for forming the BJP government in the state. The media has attempted to systematically undermine Eeshwarappa," Ramesh Jarkiholi added.

Read:|Arun Singh to visit Karnataka to solve internal conflict between BJP leaders