New Delhi, July 22: The BJP found itself in a corner today with ally Janata Dal (United) hinting at the need to act against B.S. Yeddyurappa in the mining scam. But the party remained stuck in its dilemma, afraid to get tough with its mascot in the lone southern state it rules.
The Karnataka chief minister was scheduled to reach Delhi from his foreign vacation late tonight, and the party’s core committee is likely to discuss the issue tomorrow.
But today, NDA convener and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav put the BJP in a tight spot by stressing the need for “impeccable integrity” in the alliance’s campaign against corruption.
“I will take the matter up with the BJP leadership.… But one thing is clear: if you are fighting corruption, your personal integrity should be impeccable,” Yadav said.
The BJP realises that the Yeddyurappa taint would weaken its attempts to take on the Centre over corruption during the monsoon session, but remains indecisive.
“Legally, there isn’t enough strength in the (Lokayukta’s) case but we realise it will damage us in a big way in the popular perception,” a senior BJP leader said.
But another leader spelt out the party’s worry: “In Karnataka, the BJP means Yeddyurappa. What if he splits the party?”
The central leadership, whom the chief minister had earlier humbled by refusing to resign over a land scam, fears that if he is pushed, he might opt for mid-term polls.
“We might be compelled to accept his offer. What do we do if he refuses to quit?” a senior leader said.
Officially, the party continued to parry questions on the plea that the Lokayukta’s report was yet to be submitted.
“We have the highest regard for Santosh Hegde and are appreciative of his job. But the report has not yet been submitted. The BJP will come up with an appropriate response once the report is submitted,” spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
‘No parallels’
The Congress today slammed the BJP for citing the Delhi government’s purported inaction on Lokayukta reports, saying there was no parallel.
Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: “The BJP is comparing (the mining scam) with Delhi minister Rajkumar Chauhan who is accused of calling an officer to see no injustice is done to a banquet hall owner.”
He said Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin’s observations about Sheila Dikshit relate to election promises and not corruption. The Congress wants a debate whether the poll manifesto and promises are open to judicial review.
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