'No discussion on leadership': Karnataka BJP in charge backs Yediyurappa as MLC questions CM's ability to run government

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddiyurappa, who is facing dissidence from within, came under fresh attack on Thursday as a state BJP leader questioned his ability to run the BJP government. This even as BJP's national general secretary and Karnataka in charge Arun Singh ruled out any leadership change in the state.
BJP MLC AH Vishwanath, who has been critical of the chief minister, fired yet another salvo at Yediyurappa and said: "Public opinion about government and party is negative. It's not good. Mr Yediyurappa is not in a condition to run the government as CM. Under his guidance, someone else should be accommodated in that position."
The BJP MLC also accused Yediyurappa's family members of interfering in the administrative work and the running of departments.
"In irrigation department, a tender of Rs 20,000 crore was okayed without the clearance or resolution of the Irrigation Board," Vishwanath said.
He further claimed that "BY Vijayendra, who is Yediyurappa's younger son, and his friends have said that we collect money and this goes to Delhi. This is bad propaganda for the party."
The attack against Yediyurappa comes amid hectic political activities in the ruling BJP as Arun Singh is meeting leaders and legislators individually to take stock of the ground situation.
'Family politics and demon politics in BJP too'
Vishwanath claimed that he had brought these issues to the notice of Arun Singh.
"Like in other parties 'family politics and demon politics' is seen in BJP too. Yediyurappa should become a "margdarshak" and make way for others," MLC Vishwanath said after meeting the national general secretary.
"I don't belong to any faction, I'm a party worker ... I was with JD(S) earlier as its state president and MLA and had quit revolting against its leadership opposing several things there, but same things I'm seeing here. I'm seeing family politics and demon politics here too," he said.
'2-3 MLAs harming party's image, their records being gathered'
Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP in charge Singh, who is meeting the state leaders individually, ruled out any discussion on leadership change and said that two to three MLAs were acting in a way that was harming party's image.
Warning the MLAs, he said, "State BJP chief & other leaders are keeping a record of their statements. We're gathering their record. I appeal to them to keep in mind that their statements should not hurt the party."
On the statements made by MLC Vishwanath, Arun Singh said, "We've made it clear that he is new and is not aware of the party culture."
Singh claimed that there are no differences in the party and all leaders are united.
"Commendable work is being done under chief minister BS Yediyurappa's leadership," he told reporters after the meeting.
His claims notwithstanding, the BJP leaders in Karnataka seem to be divided into three camps. While one group has been opposing Yediyurappa, another faction is strongly backing him. There is a third group of leaders who are neutral and will go by the decision of the party's national leadership.
Giving credence to rumblings within the BJP, senior minister K S Eshwarappa had yesterday acknowledged that a section within the party is of the view that Yediyurappa should be replaced.
'My phone is being tapped'
BJP MLA Arvind Bellad, who is said to be from the faction of the party that is seeking chief minister B S Yediyurappa's replacement, has alleged that his phone was being tapped and attempts were on to fix him as part of some conspiracy, in order to defame him.
The MLA from Hubli-Dharwad West said he has petitioned home minister Basavaraj S Bommai and assembly speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri in this regard for an inquiry and to get the matter investigated.
"A few days ago when I returned a call that I had missed, a person said his name was Yuvraj Swamy and wanted to speak to me about political developments and my name being heard in it ... as I could not recognise who he was, I had cut short the discussion and disconnected the call."
"Again after three four days he called claiming that he was unnecessarily put in jail and was in hospital now," Bellad said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there was a "conspiracy" behind sudden calls to him in recent days from Yuvraj Swamy, a person who is facing cases and someone whom he has not known or spoken to in the past.
"Despite my father Chandrakant Bellad being a five time MLA, his political life was without a black mark ... as his son I'm also following in his footsteps ... unable to find any fault in me, I feel attempts are being made to fix me by making such people call and talk to me ... big hands are behind it," he added.
Yuvraj Swamy, who Bellad is referring to, is said to be the same person who had reportedly claimed to have ties with central political leaders and a powerful right-wing organisations and had allegedly conned several people taking money with assurances that he would get them plum positions.
Bellad claimed his movements were also being monitored.
'Congress indulging in political conspiracy'
Karnataka minister B Sriramulu accused the Congress of indulging in political conspiracy to destabilise the BJP government.
"Siddaramaiah wants to be chief minister. But he doesn't know there's 'Kattappa' behind him," Sriramulu said.
The minister further claimed that whatever remarks MLC AH Vishwanath had made were in his personal capacity.
Congress, JD(S) demand dismissal of Yediyurappa government
The Congress and the JD(S) have demanded the dismissal of the Yediyurappa government and said that "lack of leadership is leading to anarchy".
"I demand that the governor should intervene and dismiss the BJP government immediately against the backdrop of anarchy prevailing in the state due to the infighting in the BJP," Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who is also the leader of opposition in the assembly, tweeted.
He added that the 'Vidhana Soudha', the seat of power, has shifted to the BJP office and the Kumarakrupa Guest House as the ministers are not available in their offices and no one was there to address the public grievances.
Siddaramaiah said "the government itself is in the ICU when the people are battered with Covid-19 and lockdown".
The JD(S) second-in-command Kumaraswamy said, "The media reports say that the search for a leader to replace the existing one (Yediyurappa) has begun, but no suitable person is available".
"What is the use of a government which does not have leadership ... Dissolve it first," Kumaraswamy tweeted.
He likened the "leaderless government" to a ship without a sailor and a house without an owner, which can prove fatal.
(With inputs from agencies)