Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 4: It is said that Karnataka chief minister, B S Yediyurappa, who has been infuriated at being sidelined in taking decisions and restrictions being put on his freedom of decision making, took state BJP president and MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, to task in no uncertain terms. This is stated to have happened when Nalin visited the residence of Yediyurappa.

Even though this was termed as a courtesy visit, Yediyurappa gave vent to his pent up anger at being restrained after enjoying for long the power to do anything and everything in the state BJP. During this 30-minute meeting, Yediyurappa reportedly gave a tongue-lashing to the style of functioning of the state BJP president.

"Of late, you have been purposefully overlooking me when taking certain decisions relating to the party. I was kept at bay in the matter of appointment of office bearers of the party, election of BBMP mayor and deputy mayor and certain other issues. I advise you not to nurse the illusion of being able to build the party without my support," he warned Kateel in no uncertain terms.

Yediyurappa gave vent to is rage at the re-appointment of Nirmall Kumar Surana and Bhanuprakash as state vice presidents of the party although he had expelled them from the party in the past for anti-party activities. "You took them back without even consulting me at least for courtesy sake. I know who is behind these things," he said.

Yediyurappa reminded Kateel that a committee had been formed to decide who should be made the mayor and deputy mayor of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike by consulting MLAs, Lok Sabha members, Rajya Sabha and legislative council members. "A decision was taken to form this committee in consultation with deputy chief minister, Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, revenue minister, R Ashok, party president of Bengaluru city unit etc. But you embarrassed me by claiming that no such committee had been formed. How far were you in order in dismantling this committee?" he is learnt to have queried. He also wanted to know why Gautham Kumar Jain was chosen as mayoral candidate at the last minute, duly overlooking the earlier decision to choose one of the corporators among Padmanaba Reddy, L Srinivas, and Munendra Kumar as the city mayor.

"I am aware that the seat occupied by me is a bed full of thorns. I have been tolerating pains and insults for my own reasons. I have no objection if you follow only the diktats of a national level party leader. If you behave like this, I too will have to own the same stance. If you want to poke your nose in government decisions, don’t you think you should show the courtesy to at least ask me before taking a decision," he is learnt to have questioned.

Thereafter, Kateel hurriedly made an exit from the residence of Yediyurappa.