BJP old-timers want to meet high command

BANGALORE: ‘Not loyalty but sycophancy or dissidence that pays in the party’, was a caustic remark made by a few BJP MLAs. Their agony was palpable after five “outsiders” were inducted into the ministry on Thursday.Having realised that their chances of becoming ministers are thin and waning, they have planned to knock at the doors of national party president Nitin Gadkari and senior leader L K Advani.“We want to explain to the central leadership how migrants have been encouraged at the cost of loyal and dedicated party activists, right from day one. This is not a complaint against B S Yeddyurappa or Ananth Kumar.Both are responsible for the present situation,” a legislator said, adding: “We would like to go on our own.” But state BJP president K S Eshwarappa is of the view that there is no need for the MLAs to call on the high command as their issues would be addressed by the state unit.“There is nothing wrong in meeting the all-India president.In our party, even an ordinary worker can meet the top most leader. But if it is for the issue of getting ministerial berths, we (state unit) are capable of handling it,” he told Express.“The MLAs should look at the party workers who have not yet become anything,” he added.The seeds of discontentment was sown with the formation of the government when Yeddyurappa was forced to take the support of six independent MLAs. Then neglect of the loyal MLAs continued, and it was justified as a necessity to strengthen the party.With Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar perpetually at loggerheads, the workers and MLAs are confused as to whom to be loyal to, as loyalty to the party has not helped them in any way.“When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The MLAs and the party workers at grass-roots level are suffering on account of the fight between Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar,” a senior functionary said.