BANGALORE : The BJP which rose to power in the state for the very first time with the slogan “ We all are one, there should be no discrimination among us,†as of now is ridden with factionalism, raising doubts over the chances of survival of this government for its full five year term.
The factionalism that has crept into the party under the banner of Lingayat, Bhovi and Okkaliga communities has become a bitter pill to swallow for the party which claims to be a highly disciplined one. Already, a keen tussle is underway for the state BJP presidentship which would see a change in November as also for a berth in the cabinet which has fallen vacant following the resignation of Somanna. The different factions, it is learnt, are all set to pressurize the leadership to give representation to their respective communities. Their main grouse being that the government has until now been giving undue prominence only to the Lingayat community.
Close on the heels of Okkaliga leaders including DVS, Shobha Karandlaje, R Ashok , CT Ravi and others holding a closed door meeting at a hotel in the capital, even the Bhovi leaders led by Aravind Limbavali had convened a meeting. Moreover, the attending of this meeting by displeased independent ministers Goolihatti Shekhar, Venkatramanappa and Shivaraj Tangadagi, has aroused much interest.
While the Okkaliga faction is leaving no stone unturned in pressurizing the leadership to hand over the mantle of State BJP to R Ashok, it is also hell bent upon its stand that in case Ashok was denied the post, then legislator CT Ravi should be either chosen for the post or given a cabinet berth.
Meanwhile, the Bhovi faction which is arguing that the community had played a pivotal role in bringing the BJP to power, has placed forth a demand to make Aravind Limbavali as the state party chief.
As of now, rumours are also doing the rounds that chief minister Yaddyurappa was greatly disturbed by the recent developments which has brought in him fears of losing his chair as happened in the case of Veerendra Patil who lost power owing to a conspiracy by the opposition.
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