Eshwarappa's remark draws ire

BANGALORE: "The BJP did a mistake in taking up Operation Lotus based on caste, money and muscle power and lost control of the political process. These outsiders are now creating trouble for the ruling party through all sorts of blackmail."
Surprisingly, these statements are by BJP state president KS Eshwarappa, and predictably kicked off a storm with former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa's supporters taking exception.Eshwarappa said this on Wednesday in Bellary during campaigning for the June 11 MLC elections. "We have learnt enough lessons from experience," he added
Faced with a reduction in BJP's strength in the assembly following the rebellion by its Bellary politicians, Eshwarappa said the party was forced to take up Operation Lotus. "It's true that we lured legislators of opposition parties based on caste and money. We're now facing bitter times because of it,' he said indirectly targeting ministers loyal to Yeddyurappa.
"Eshwarappa's statement was uncalled for when the party is in such a big mess,'' said Harihar MLA B P Harish. Agriculture minister Umesh Katti and housing minister V Somanna, who joined the saffron party after it came to power, took serious objection to the statement, saying he was an irresponsible leader who lacked consistency. "We joined BJP with the aim of providing a stable government, that too at the request of Yeddyurappa and not because of money or other allurements,'' Katti added.