Instead of introspecting, BJP blames Congress-JD(S) link

Instead of going right into the crux of the issues that resulted in BJP losing the recent bypoll to two Assembly seats, an introspection meeting convened by party merely blamed the tacit understanding between the Congress and JD(S) and the alleged misuse of government machinery for its defeat. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa, who spearheaded the party’s poll campaign in Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly constituencies. The meet was held in the background of the party’s old guards putting pressure on Mr. Yeddyurappa to change his functioning style as some of them felt that there was a strategic mistake with personal egos being projected rather than giving prominence to the party central leadership in the campaign. However, in a release after the meeting, BJP State general secretary Arvind Limbavali said most leaders who attended felt that the alleged misuse of government machinery, use of money power and tacit understanding between the Congress and JD(S) were the main reasons behind BJP’s defeat. A senior party leader wondered if it meant that the BJP had come to a conclusion that it is bound to bite the dust if a similar trend, including the tacit understanding between the Congress and JD(S), continued in the 2018 Assembly polls. The BJP will chalk out a strategy to win the polls and will continue with its mission of ensuring victory in a minimum of 150 seats, Mr. Limbavali said. Meanwhile, referring to the absence of senior leaders Jagadish Shettar and K.S. Eshwarappa at the meeting, Mr. Limbavali said both leaders had taken permission from Mr. Yeddyurappa to abstain from the meet owing to other preoccupations.