Porngate: BJP to crack whip on ministers, MPs

Reeling under the porngate scandal involving three of its members, the ruling BJP in Karnataka today decided to hold a training session for its ministers and legislators to teach them discipline and morality.

The Core Committee meeting held at "Krishna", the official residence of Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, decided to conduct the 'chintan-manthan' session, a brain storming session during which its ministers and legislators would get lessons on discipline and morality.

"We have decided to have the 'chintan-manthan' baitak on Febaruary 24 and 25 in the city. The meeting of the state level executive would now be held in Bangalore instead of Mangalore for two days from March one," State unit BJP President KS Eswarappa told reporters.

After the porngate scandal broke out involving former ministers Laxman Savadi, CC Patil and Krishna Palemar, whom the party high command forced to quit the ministry, the BJP had decided to postpone its zonal level convention planned in Bijapur and other places during this month.

Eswarappa, however, said the party would not initiate any action against disgraced MLAs and await the house committee probe findings expected to be set up by Assembly Speaker KG Bopaiah.

"No action will be taken against the three MLAs. We will decide on action after the house committee submits its report. I am confident all the three will prove their innocence", he said. Earlier, the BJP had conducted 'chintan-manthan' sessions in Mysore on two occasions.

The first BJP government in south India has been facing a series of setbacks throughout its tenure and has had to contend with a series of scams, following which its image has taken a beating.

With the resignation of Savadi, Patil and Palemar, the list of BJP ministers in the state who made dishonourable exit in the last four years rose to seven. The present row has come at an uncomfortable time for the party, which is preparing for assembly elections in Karnataka next year.