Dissidence-hit Karnataka BJP leaders in confessional mode

Bangalore, Dec 28 : Faced with continued dissidence in the party, Karnataka's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Monday admitted that he committed mistakes to save his chair.

His rival and Energy Minister K.S. Eshwarappa acknowledged that people were angry that the party once known for discipline is riven by differences and dissidence.

"Even god will not forgive us for this," Eshwarappa, a former state BJP president, told reporters in Shimoga, about 275 km from here.

Yeddyurappa told reporters on the margins of a function in Bangalore that he has "realized that he had committed many mistakes to remain in power" but promised "to soon rectify them".

The BJP's first chief minister in Karnataka and south India survived a strong challenge to his leadership by financially powerful mining magnate Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy in October-November.

As part of the peace deal with them, he sacked his close associate Shobha Karandlage from the ministry, shunted out trusted officers from his secretariat, and agreed to post officials the Reddy brothers wanted in the districts where they wield influence.

On Dec 24, Yeddyurappa was forced to induct a dissident legislator M.P. Renukacharya into the ministry in the face of stiff opposition by a section of legislators.

Renukacharya is facing criminal cases of intimidation, extortion and insulting the modesty of a woman on a complaint by a nurse Jayalakshmi, who had also released photos of the two hugging and kissing in 2007. She had claimed that the photos were taken at gunpoint.

Opposition to Renukacharya's induction is growing with party veterans and legislators from several districts issuing statements that Yeddyurappa has been bowing to blackmail tactics of some dissidents.

Eshwarappa said in Shimoga that Renukacharya has been made a minister not because of his abilities but bowing to pressure exerted by his dissidence.

Chandrakant Bellad, a three-time legislator from north Karnataka district of Dharwad, demanded Sunday that he too be made a minister.

Ramesh Jigajinagi, a BJP Lok Sabha member, has warned of a revolt by Dalit legislators in the party because they feel ignored by the state leadership.

Yeddyurappa is trying to mollify the legislators upset over induction of Renukacharya.

"A meeting of the legislature party will be held in Bangalore Tuesday evening to hear their views and take right decisions," Yeddyurappa told reporters.