BENGALURU: BJP national president Amit Shah is expected to do some tough talking to the top rung of the state leadership during his three-day visit to the state starting Saturday. Shah, who is arriving to infuse new dynamism into the party rank and file to fight the forthcoming assembly election, will have to iron out the differences within before drawing up plans to take on the political rivals.
The absence of senior leader K S Eshwarappa at the recent BJP State Executive Meet has again exposed the rift within the party. The differences between party state president B S Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa that has surfaced again is a cause for concern as the party leaders had hoped that the two leaders have buried their differences after appointing Eshwarappa head of party’s OBC wing to conduct backward community and dalit rallies.
The surveys conducted by the BJP national unit to gauge the public mood in the state and also the feedback from the Vistarak (outreach) programme is said to have pointed out fissures within the party as a factor that could cause big damage to the party’s prospects in the Assembly election.
A section of the party leadership is keen to raise the issue of the party’s ‘soft approach towards Energy minister D K Shivakumar whose premises were raided by IT officials recently. Total in action on part of state BJP leaders in exploiting the issue has baffled the party rank and file as the state leaders had gone hammer and tongs at Small Scale Industries minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, demanding his resignation in the aftermath of a similar raid on his premises,” a former BJP Minister told Express.
While Shah is expected to convey a strong message to bury the differences, his meeting with state leaders and various wings of the party would chart out responsibilities for each leader.
His schedule
10.45am: Arrive at Kempegowda International Airport
11am: Reception at Toll Plaza, KIA road
11.50am: Party rank and file to welcome him at state office in Malleshwaram
12.15 am: Chair a series of meetings with state office-bearers, divisional organsing secretaries and heads of various morchas
6.15: Interaction with intellectuals