Disgruntled BJP Leaders to Visit Delhi to Convey Feelings to Central Leadership

Some BJP leaders, who are disgruntled following the appointment of B Y Vijayendra as the president of the partys Karnataka unit and R Ashok as the leader of opposition in the Assembly, are likely to visit New Delhi early next month to convey their feelings to the central leadership.

Some BJP leaders in Karnataka, who are unhappy with the appointment of B Y Vijayendra as the president of the party's state unit and R Ashok as the leader of opposition in the Assembly, are planning to visit New Delhi early next month to express their concerns to the central leadership.

Senior leader V Somanna, who has been sulking following the appointments, said on Saturday that he will visit the national capital with MLAs Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad, Ramesh Jarkiholi, former MLA Arvind Limbavali, and others. All five leaders named have been critical of the saffron party's decision to appoint former chief minister B S Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra as its state president and Ashoka as the leader of opposition.

Somanna to Visit Delhi With Other Leaders

I received a message on Friday night. I will probably go to Delhi between December 7 and 10 along with Yatnal, Limbavali, Bellad, Jarkiholi, and several others. We will meet the top party leaders and share our feelings with them," Somanna told reporters here. He said the leaders have a vision, which will be conveyed to the top leadership. Only when a child cries does the mother feed it milk. The party must grow. No one should be taken for granted; no one should have a complete say," Somanna said.

Somanna Shares Feelings With Siddaganga Math Pontiff

Earlier in the day, Somanna visited the influential Siddaganga Math here, and a video of him purportedly sharing his feelings in front of math pontiff Siddalinga Swami was aired on television news channels. In the video, Somanna can be heard saying that accepting the party's decision that he should contest the Assembly polls from two seats was a mistake. What was I to do when I was asked to contest with just four days left? Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in my house for two-three hours, and he badgered me. What should I have done, Swamiji?" he is heard asking the pontiff.

Somanna Sulking After Losing From Two Constituencies

Somanna, a leader from the Lingayat community, has been sulking ever since he lost from two constituencies in the Assembly polls held in May. He was asked to shift from his Govindaraj Nagar seat to contest from Varuna against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as also from Chamarajanagar. There is speculation that he might quit the BJP and join the ruling Congress in the southern state.

Yediyurappa Tried to Reach Out to Somanna

Asked about Somanna's disgruntlement, Yediyurappa said he has not been able to reach out to his party colleague. I tried talking to him over the phone. He is not receiving my calls. We will try everything possible to keep him in the party," the former chief minister said.

The discontent among some BJP leaders in Karnataka over the recent appointments is a sign of the growing factionalism within the party. It remains to be seen how the central leadership will address the concerns of these leaders and whether they will be able to placate them.