Jaitley asks Karnataka BJP leaders to maintain discipline

Amid reports of dissidence in its Karnataka unit, BJP today asked party leaders to maintain discipline and work unitedly and refrain from doing anything that will tarnish the image of the state government.     

"I have directed all senior leaders to maintain discipline and do nothing that would dent the image of the government and the party," senior party leader Arun Jaitley told reporters at the end of his two-day trouble-shooting mission.     

Jaitley, who was here to mollify leaders, including some ministers who were up in arms against the style of functioning of Chief Minister B S Yedyurappa, however, maintained that there was no dissidence in the state unit.     

"There is no dissidence in Karnataka BJP. There are some minor differences. I have met and heard the views of several leaders," he said.     

Party sources said Power Minister K S Eshwarappa who had openly questioned Yeddyurappa for fielding his son B Y Raghavendra for Shimoga Lok Sabha seat which he won, spoke against the chief minister in his presence.     

They said the rebels pointed out some "unilateral" decisions taken by Yeddyurappa.

Jaitley said there was no demand by rebels for a change in the leadership or for dropping some ministers. "There are no complaints or demands", he asserted.     

Three ministers from Bellary district — Minister for Tourism G Janardhana Reddy and Minister for Revenue G Karunakara Reddy, both mine owners and their close associate Minister for Health B Sreeramulu, are unhappy with Yeddyurappa but did not call on Jaitley.     

The trio along with their family members were on a pilgrimage to Tirupati where Janardhana Reddy presented a Rs 45-crore diamond-studded golden crown to Lord Venkateshwara, said to be the costliest offering made to the presiding deity so far, the sources said.     

They said Jaitley, who will be on a fortnight-long foreign tour, was expected to return to the city during the first week of July to continue parleys to bring about a rapprochement between the rebels and Yeddyurappa.     

Meanwhile Yeddyurappa left here for an official tour in Dakshina Kannada district.     

In an embarrassment to the party, Reddy brothers Sriramulu and Eshwarappa had boycotted the May 31 celebrations to mark the first anniversary of installation of the BJP government in the state.