Bangalore, June 13
Arun Jaitley, whose rise in the BJP is said to be one of the reasons for senior leader Yashwant Sinha’s grouse against the party, overshadowed the former External Affairs Minister in Karnataka for the first time.
Last year Jaitley replaced Sinha as the BJP high command’s nominee to look after party affairs in Karnataka. He was at first given the responsibility of the party unit of Karnataka as a temporary arrangement on the eve of Vidhan Sabha elections in the state.
Following the party’s success in the elections - having emerged as the single largest party and then forming the first BJP government in a southern state with the help of Independent MLAs - Sinha, who was in charge of the BJP’s state affairs, was formally relieved of his duties with Jaitley succeeding him.
The step, though a year-old, has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the BJP lately, as its battling rebellion in the state unit. As if taking a cue from the infighting that is being witnessed now in Delhi among the BJP’s central leaders, powerful BJP ministers in Karnataka have also raised a banner of revolt against Chief Minister Yeddyurappa.
The open show of defiance by the veteran BJP leader and Energy Minister KS Eswarappa and two other ministers has necessitated the intervention by the party’s central leadership to restore order in the state unit.
Jaitley was here yesterday to placate leaders, including the ministers, who were unhappy with the style of functioning of Yeddyurappa.
Party loyalists here feel that had Yashwant Sinha continued as the Karnataka in charge, his resignation from party posts today would have emboldened the Karnataka rebels to intensify their challenge against the CM.
