Good job Yeddy, says Gadkari

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party has categorically ruled out leadership change in Karnataka, giving Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, plagued by series of land scam allegations, the much needed relief.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari, on a one-day’s visit to Bangalore to review the performance of the party, told journalists on Tuesday, “there is no question of any leadership change.”

Gadkari gave an ‘appraisal’ of the ‘outstanding’ performance of the BJP government in Karnataka, having come to power for the first time in South India more than 30 months ago.

The unequivocal message from the party president comes as a huge relief for the embattled chief minister, who has been vigorously attacked by the Opposition, notably JD(S).

Gadkari’s backing should put an end to speculation on Yeddyurappa’s continuation as chief minister. He had been shuttling between Bangalore and Delhi, meeting the party brass to present his side of the story on various land scam allegations involving his children and relatives. It was believed initially that the chief minister got just a reprieve, due to the forthcoming local bodies elections.

After a campaign by JD(S) against the chief minister, BJP has begun hitting back with advertisements making various land grabbing allegations against former prime minister Deve Gowda and his family. According to BJP leaders, Gadkari has reportedly backed the initiative taken by the state unit against JD(S) and told them to take the Opposition head on. This has created a war of words, advertisements and RTIs between BJP and JD(S) with both parties making counter allegations.

On the forthcoming Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections, Gadkari said that trends indicated BJP would emerge victorious. He said that the party had won majority of elections since coming to power in Karnataka in May, 2008. At the same time, he said he expected a mid-term Lok Sabha polls, owing to a series of ‘scams’ that have plagued the UPA government.