Amit Shah checks with Yediyurappa, Bommai on steps taken to tackle dissent

BENGALURU: With dissidence simmering in the BJP after several senior leaders were denied tickets for the May 10 Assembly election, the party’s state leaders and busy firefighting in those particular segments. Many BJP leaders have quit the party and joined other parties while there is dissent in many constituencies.

At the core committee meeting on Friday night, Union Home Minister Amit Shah checked with former chief minister B S Yediyurappa and the chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on the measures being taken to tackle dissent. The state leaders are learnt to have presented a report to Shah on how they have sorted out the rebel trouble.

The BJP believes that if it can tackle dissidence in at least 50 per cent of the seats where it is facing trouble, it can manage the situation. It is said that Amit Shah gave examples of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarkhand and Himachal Pradesh and explained how they took the disgruntled into confidence with ‘love and compassion’.

The politics in Karnataka is not comparable to the northern states and personal and family stakes dominate in many constituencies. Infighting is being witnessed in some constituencies because of local issues and hence, the high command felt it best that the local leaders handle the issue.

The state leadership including senior leader B S Yediyurappa and Chief Minister Bommai are chalking out plans for pacify the rebellious leaders in the party.