'Advani compromised with corruption when it required'

New Delhi, May 16: It seems the BJP's embarrassment in Karnataka is far from over. A party leader and close aide of Karnataka Janata Paksha chief B S Yeddyurappa, the former chief minister of the state, Lehar Singh Siroya, has alleged on an open letter that senior leader L K Advani had compromised on the question of corruption in the past when it suited his own interest.

Advani had strongly criticised the BJP's handling of Yeddyurappa, who was charged with corruption, and said that the party had compromised with corruption by not sternly dealing with the man and it led to its humiliating defeat in the recent assembly polls. The BJP lost its first major bastion in south India after the Congress wrested back Karnataka in the May 5 elections.

Siroya, in his letter sent to both Advani and party president Rajnath Singh, slammed Advani for taking a moral high ground over corruption and pushing for Yeddyurappa's ouster, which cost the party dearly.

Taking a dig at Advani, Siroya said the latter had never inquired tabout the source of the money for his rallies and yatras and neither did he ask from where the funds that brought the BJP to power in Karnataka five years ago came.

According to observers, Siroya's letter reflects that there is a desperation in the party to bring back Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat strongman, back into the BJP following the pathstic electoral loss.

OneIndia News