BJP avoids debate on leadership change in K'tka

"We discussed development requirements. What is going on and what should be done. What are the peoples' expectations. The meeting was conducted in an healthy atmosphere," BJP general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, deputed to hear the grievances of the party legislators including MPs, told mediapersons after winding up his two-day visit to the city.

Pradhan, who heard MLAs, MLCs and MPs in groups, said interaction was held constituency-wise and majority of the legislators wanted the government to address drinking water problem faced by people.

"There is no communication gap between the party legislators and the government. There is nothing wrong in the party high command intervening in such matters," Pradhan, in- charge of Karnataka affairs, said.

He defended the exercise when asked why local leaders, including Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and state unit president K S Eswrappa, did not resolve these issues.

BJP organising secretary V Satish, RSS leader Santosh were also present at the meeting along with Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa.

To a pointed query on how the party could expect its legislators to complain against the chief minister, when the opinion was sought in his (Yeddyurappa) presence itself, Pradhan said "everyone expressed problems faced by them in their constituencies".

"No MLA, minister or leader complained against my administration. They are happy about it. The meeting was held in good atmosphere yesterday and today. Drinking water problem, desilting of tanks and ensuring Rs 10,000 incentive to small farmers to help them to take up farming activity came for discussion," Yeddyurappa said.

He said he would undertake review of development works in four districts every month along with the chief secretary.

Eswarappa said the newly built state unit party office building would be inaugurated by senior leader L K Advani in Bengaluru on April 28.

State BJP spokesman C T Ravi, one of the leaders who had joined the rebel ranks, said there were no curbs on the issue discussed at the meeting.

The BJP central leadership had deputed Pradhan and Satish to douse the revolt that has erupted against Yeddyurappa's style of functioning.