After botched up toppling bid, blame game starts in BJP

Bengaluru: A blame game has commenced within the BJP with some leaders and the party cadre speaking up against state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and central leadership for an unsuccessful attempt to topple the coalition government. 

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior BJP leader and member of the core committee said: "a failure of this strategy of banking on disgruntled Congress legislators to dislodge the government will affect the image of central leaders and morale of our workers. Our central leaders erred by asking MLAs to camp close to New Delhi and thus attract the attention of the national media. We decided to remain in Delhi merely on receiving information about willingness of few Congress MLAs to resign", the leader added. 

The leader admitted "no senior leader in the party's state unit has been informed about this strategy. Since the leadership has not taken us into confidence, we have not shown interest to offer any suggestions when the coalition faced this crisis. A majority of the party cadre has also shown disappointment because they were looking forward to the leadership gearing up for Lok Sabha elections. Such developments over the last four days will definitely bring down the morale of our workers. Our stay in Delhi was not planned. We went to Delhi to attend the national executive. Initially the party informed us to remain in Delhi only for a day. But after political developments witnessed in Bengaluru with few Congress MLAs leaving for Mumbai, our leadership asked party MLAs to stay at one place to get a clear picture of events unfolding in the Congress. But by remaining in Delhi for four days, we caught the attention of the national media, and allegations of horse trading by leaders of Dal (S) and Congress," the leader added.  

The leader said the decision to attempt destabilization of the government at this juncture could impact the party and its image with Lok Sabha polls round the corner.  

Another senior BJP leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said "Mr. Yeddyurappa has reached a 'now or never' situation, and therefore desperately wanted to take over as the Chief Minister before Lok Sabha polls. He is under the impression that after Lok Sabha polls, the central leadership would sideline him and chances of him becoming the CM are remote. Therefore, he asked his diehard supporters to do something to install a BJP government in Karnataka, and he trusted Congress rebel MLAs including Ramesh Jarakeholi and Anand Singh."