BJP Least Worried About KJP as Handful of MLAs may Join it, says Eshwarappa

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 21: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is least worried about former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s yet to be formed Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), said State BJP President and Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa, pointing out that ''only a handful of MLAs were likely to join it.”

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore on Wednesday, he said hardly four BJP MLAs – Hartalu Halappa (Soraba), D S Suresh (Tarikere), B P Harish (Harihar) and Nehru C Olekar (Haveri) – have issued statements that they would join the new party being launched by Yeddyurappa at Haveri on December 9.

''It is yet to be seen if even these four MLAs will join KJP or develop cold feet,” he said.

The very fact that Yeddyurappa had preponed his launching function originally scheduled on Monday, December 10, when the State Legislature session was being held in the Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum, and rescheduled the date of launching to Sunday, December 9, was proof of the doubts in the mind of the former chief minister that he may not be able to attract more MLAs, Eshwarappa said in a tongue-in-cheek comment.

However, Eshwarappa warned that the ruling party would take disciplinary action against the four MLAs or any other MLAs if they attended the KJP function at Haveri on December 9.

''They will meet the same fate as that of former Union Minister and State Government’s Special Representative in Delhi V Dhananjaya Kumar, who had been expelled from  the party,” Eshwarappa declared.
 
“All other leaders, who attend the KJP meeting, will also face the same action as Dhananjaya Kumar,” the State BJP chief said.

Asserting that no minister in the Jagadish Shettar government would attend the programme in Haveri, he said: “I still hope Yeddyurappa will remain in the BJP. He is what is and attained whatever position and stature only because of BJP.”

''Who will join and attend the KJP meeting will be known only after December 9,” he declared.
The party would not hesitate to initiate disciplinary action against legislators and leaders indulged in anti-party activities, Eshwarappa said.
 

Nobody will Be Spared
 
Asked why the party has not taken action against legislators identified with former Minister B Sriramulu’s Badavara Shramikara Raithara (BSR) Congress, the Deputy Chief Minister said the party had already issued show cause notices to Bellary MP J Shanta and MLAs B Nagendra and G Somashekara Reddy.

In their replies, they denied indulgence in anti-party activities, he said, making it clear that, ''We will not spare anybody.”

Welcomes Kasab’s Hanging

Meanwhile, the State BJP Chief welcomed the Centre’s decision to hang Ajmal Kasab, the prime accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

He should have been hanged much earlier instead of being allowed to live so long, Eshwarappa said.

The Pakistani terrorist was hanged at Pune’s Yerawada Jail on Wednesday morning, after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition on November 5.

Steps For MGNREGA’s Effective Implementation
 
For effective implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), the State Government has decided to hire services of manpower agencies from next month.

Eshwarappa, who also holds Revenue and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj portfolios, said manpower agencies would be asked to supply 1000 engineers, 400 agricultural graduates, and 1400 data entry operators for carrying out the work in various districts.

Computer operators would be appointed based on the requirement in each district, he announced.

Eshwarappa, who chaired a meeting with officials of both departments, said Deputy Commissioners of each district has been asked to call tenders to hire personnel from manpower agencies.

Salary of engineers, agricultural graduates and data operators has been fixed at Rs 20,000, Rs 12,000 and Rs 7,000 per month respectively.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has been slow in implementing the demand driven job scheme on account of inadequate staff to assign works, prepare bills for work done and payment of wages under the scheme.

The State Government has so far spent Rs 850 crore for taking up various works under the job scheme.