Close on the heels of rebel leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal replying to the show-cause notice issued to him by the party’s central disciplinary committee, the BJP rebels are set to hold a meeting in Bengaluru on Thursday in which they are expected to finalise a State-wide campaign for broadbasing their support.
It is learnt that the BJP rebels meeting in Bengaluru are keen to take up a campaign seeking the deportation of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh on the lines of their earlier campaign on eviction notices issued by Waqf Board to farmers and others on encroachments. This is being seen in the party as an effort to directly connect with party cadre.
Though the rebels were in the news earlier for their statements against the BJP State leadership, they had taken their detractors by surprise when they embarked upon a State-wide parallel campaign on the Waqf issue. This campaign had received more publicity than the party’s official campaign in some places.
The rebels are also likely to take stock of the situation in the BJP State unit in which the process of election or selection of the State president is reaching the final stage. It is learnt that the rebels, who are opposed to any possibility of incumbent president B.Y. Vijayendra continuing at the helm, may discuss the opportunities left to them to counter him.
Do not call them ‘rebels’: BYV
Meanwhile, Mr. Vijayendra who addressed a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, desisted from attacking the rebels, while replying to queries on their activities unlike on previous occasion when he had lashed out at them and the neutral group of leaders in the party. In fact, he took exception to the media referring to them as “rebels” and said they were “leaders of the party.”
Sticking to his stand that the party high command knew everything and would resolve any internal differences, he said he would work with everyone to strengthen the party to revive the old image that Karnataka was BJP’s gateway for South India.
Seeking to remove confusion over the election to the post of president, he clarified that so far such a process had been completed only in 10 states. The election of State president would be taken up after the completion of election of district unit presidents which was likely to be completed in about two days, he said.
Incidentally, Mr. Vijayendra is also holding a meeting with the Leaders of the Opposition in Legislature Houses R. Ashok and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy with respect to a preliminary workshop that is being held at the party’s State headquarters on alleged misuse of funds under SCP-TSP.
