The district BJP executive committee meeting witnessed heated discussions between workers and leaders in Belagavi on Sunday.
Just as the meeting began, some committee members and invitees stood up and demanded that the meeting be deferred till the new district office-bearers were elected. The meeting called to discuss preparations for the polls to the urban local bodies and the Lok Sabha, was held at Gomatesh Vidyapeeth in Hindwadi.
The members said that there was no meaning in going ahead with the meeting as the old office-bearers were continuing to hold charge beyond their tenure.
Some alleged that senior leaders had been ignoring party workers who were sincerely campaigning and were busy in other party works.
“Some office-bearers come to the party office and rally venues only when senior leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi or State unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa visit Belagavi. Sadly, such people are promoted in the party and not the silent workers who are working at the grassroots,” one member complained.
Another member complained that there were a communication gap between leaders and workers. Several workers had no information about today’s meeting. How can you hold such a meeting, he asked.
MP Suresh Angadi tried to calm them down saying that this was not the platform for discussing such things and grievances should be discussed in another meeting.
However, the angry workers were not satisfied. When Mr. Angadi rose to speak, they prevented him by walking to the dais and arguing with him. There was confusion for some time and nothing could be heard in the din. The MP asked the workers not to blow up the issue and to discuss sensitive matters in party forums.
“I can understand your pain. But let us not discuss such issues here. As you know, we are preparing for the urban local body polls this month and the Lok Sabha elections next year. If we bicker like this, we will be sending a wrong message to the voters,” he cautioned.
Everyone knows that the BJP won the two seats in Belagavi city only through the hard work of the workers. “I fully support the idea that workers should get important posts in the party,” he said.
Party urban district unit president Rajendra Harkuni tried to console the agitated workers and asked them to remain quiet till the MP spoke. Mr. Angadi made a short speech in which he gave a call to party workers and leaders to work together for the party’s victory. Later, some workers spoke against the MP and demanded that the party high command change the Lok Sabha candidate the next time.
However, MLAs Abhay Patil and Anil Benake, who are permanent members of the executive committee, were conspicuous by their absence. Some workers raised this issue and urged the party leadership to seek an explanation from the MLAs.
Party leaders R.S. Mutalik, M.B. Jirli, Shankargouda Patil, Ujwala Badawanache and others were present.