Advani kicks tainted leaders off stage; K'taka BJP miffed

Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Karnataka, the ride has been anything but smooth for the party. Today, it is headed for another showdown as veteran leader L K Advani's rath yatra comes closer to the state.

After much confusion, Advani decided to address a rally in Bengaluru. However, no one in the state BJP wants him here.

Majorly upset with Advani are big wigs like state Home Minister R Ashok and several memebers in former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's camp.

All this while, the rift was within the Karnataka BJP. But today, it is with the central leadership.

Advani has sent out a personal message that no tainted minister should be anywhere close to the rally. They have been told to maintain a low profile and not take part or get involved with the preparations.

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Ashok, who is also the minister in charge of Bengaluru, is particularly upset with Advani's directive.

Ashok, who has been booked in a land denotification case and is set to be arrested, feels that he is being sidelined. His camp says that Advani's message was like a conviction by the top leadership.

These are matters to be decided by the court and in the absence of the same, for now, the manner in which the leadership is behaving is unfair. Moreover, being the minister in charge of Bengaluru it looks even more odd that he is kept away.

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The Yeddyurappa camp, meanwhile, faces a similar problem. It feels that Advani should at least meet Yeddyurappa.

He is not a convict and it is unfair that he is being ignored, party sources say, adding that Yeddyurappa had worked for the party and single handedly brought it to power in the state.

The BJP is on tenter hooks as there is likely to be slogan-shouting during the rally even though party loyalists like Suresh Kumar are working overtime to ensure that it is a smooth show.

Advani will have to tread carefully while delivering his address. He has the elections in sight and despite so many issues dogging the government he would be aware that the trend in Karnataka is still in favour of his party.