Date:17/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/17/stories/2007081761750800.htm

Karnataka

BJP in damage-control mode

Special Correspondent

To request Kumaraswamy to hold a meeting of coordination committee

Media reports cause concern in BJP camp
‘Coalition leaders will sort out the issue through talks’

Bangalore: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and BJP State unit president D.V. Sadananda Gowda have decided to hold talks with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in the wake of media reports that Mr. Kumaraswamy is upset with Mr. Yediyurappa for his repeated assertions that he is going to be the next chief minister.

The BJP has also decided to request Mr. Kumaraswamy to hold a meeting of the coordination committee of the coalition partners to discuss the issue and put an end to any misunderstanding.

A decision in this regard was taken after meetings of the party Ministers, office-bearers and chiefs of boards and corporations, which had been convened to take stock of the party’s preparations for the coming elections to the urban local bodies.

Earlier in the day, the media reports had not only created concern in the BJP camp, but had also set off speculation on the future of the ties between the Janata Dal (S) and the BJP. Two BJP Ministers held consultations with the Chief Minister before the commencement of the party meetings and tried to assuage his “hurt” feelings.

The meetings of the party Ministers, office-bearers and chiefs of boards and corporations dwelt at length on the above episode.

Finally, it was decided that Mr. Yediyurappa and Mr. Gowda should hold talks with Mr. Kumaraswamy besides requesting for holding a coordination committee meeting.

According to sources, BJP central leaders too expressed concern over the issue and asked Mr. Yediyurappa not to precipitate the matter.

Speaking to presspersons after the party meetings, Mr. Yediyurappa said, “We will talk to the Chief Minister to find out why he is upset and explain to him that we did not intend to hurt his feelings.”

Mr. Yediyurappa refused to answer queries regarding transfer of power and declared, “we have now decided to desist from making any statement on transfer of power through the media. If there is a need, BJP will speak to the Chief Minister directly instead of going through the media.”

Mr. Gowda argued that Mr. Yediyurappa’s statement that he was the next Chief Minister was not aimed at hurting the feelings of anyone. “The world knows that the power-sharing agreement between the coalition partners says he (Mr. Yediyurappa) is the next Chief Minister. Is it wrong if Mr. Yediyurappa mentions that?,” he remarked. But he was quick to add that the coalition leaders would sort out the issue through talks. “We need the cooperation from the JD(S) for the next 20 months to take up development works. We will not allow any problems to affect the process of implementation of development schemes.”